29 June 2026
CEO in Turbulent Times in the ZRH Community
About 90 executives accepted the invitation from the ZRH Community and FRZ (Zurich Airport Region) to attend the sold-out CEO Lunch at the memox event space on the Novu Campus at The Circle. In a conversation with Matthias Ackeret, publisher and editor-in-chief of persönlich magazine, Jens Fehlinger discussed geopolitics, sustainability, competitiveness, and the future of aviation. During the lunch that followed at Restaurant Babel, the discussions continued over a Lebanese sharing menu.
Multiple external crises at the same time
The aviation industry has undergone fundamental changes, Fehlinger explained right at the outset: “In the past, we’d have a global crisis affecting us about every seven years. Today, we’re often confronted with multiple external crises and uncertainties at the same time.” The war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, closed airspaces, volatile energy prices, and highly unpredictable political developments have had a direct impact on airlines.
This is particularly evident on international flight routes. For certain destinations in Asia, SWISS now has to fly significantly longer routes than competitors who use different airspaces. This increases costs and complexity. “Despite all these challenges, we are competing in a global market. This makes it all the more important that we remain flexible and continuously adapt to changing conditions,” said Fehlinger.
Competitiveness as an Ongoing Task
Another challenge in terms of competitiveness is the demanding operating environment at the Zurich hub, with its restricted operating hours and operational concepts: “We have the most restrictive nighttime quiet hours regulations of all Lufthansa Group hubs here.” This makes close cooperation with partners such as Flughafen Zürich AG and Skyguide all the more important. “We’re handling these challenges very well within our close system partnership.”
The SWISS CEO also called for a sense of proportion when it comes to regulatory issues. It is not a matter of special treatment, but of ensuring competitive conditions that are as comparable as possible. Particularly when it comes to sustainability or aviation taxes, it is crucial that European airlines not be unilaterally disadvantaged in global competition.
“Swissness” as a differentiator
In this context, the question arises: what actually sets SWISS apart from other airlines? “Behind the scenes, we actually work very closely with the Lufthansa Group,” said Fehlinger. This results in advantages, for example, when purchasing kerosene or procuring new aircraft. However, SWISS’s independence must remain evident to passengers at all times.
“In the product that our guests see, we stand out very clearly.” This “Swissness” is particularly evident in the service, the commitment to quality, and the use of locally sourced food and products. At the same time, Fehlinger highlighted the high level of motivation among employees: “I find Switzerland to be extremely pragmatic, solution-oriented, and open-minded.”
Safety First
How is SWISS addressing the current challenges? For Fehlinger, the answer begins with a clear priority: “Safety always comes first for us.” He also cited stable flight operations and the increasing availability of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) as key issues.
Investments in seats, service, or in-flight meals would only be effective if operations ran reliably. Accordingly, safety, stability, and on-time performance are at the heart of daily operations.
Sustainability and Digitalization
While safety and stability define the present, many investments are focused on the future. “SWISS is continuously investing in modern aircraft that significantly reduce fuel consumption, as well as in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF),” explained the SWISS CEO.
Sustainability and competitiveness must always be considered together. “We stand by our commitment to greater sustainability,” Fehlinger emphasized. At the same time, SWISS is investing in digital and other solutions to make processes simpler and more transparent for customers and to operate more efficiently within the organization.
A Boost for the Airport Region
Many of the topics discussed are likely of concern to numerous CEOs in attendance. Companies throughout the airport region are grappling with questions regarding competitiveness, dealing with geopolitical uncertainties, sustainability, digitalization, and brand differentiation. Accordingly, the CEO Lunch provided the executives in attendance with valuable insights into how to tackle complex challenges in an international setting.
During the lunch that followed at Restaurant Babel, discussions continued over Lebanese specialties, and new connections were made. Thus concluded a CEO Lunch that not only offered insights into the world of aviation but also provided food for thought for companies far beyond the industry.
For the CEOs of the ZRH Community, there are two more opportunities this year for C-level networking: on September 9 with Nora Teuwsen, Chair of the Executive Board of ABB Switzerland AG, and on October 29 with Martin Nydegger, CEO of Switzerland Tourism.
All information on the ZRH Community’s upcoming business events: Events
