Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) reports an operating profit (Adjusted EBIT) of 189.3 million Swiss francs for the first half of 2026, a decrease of 3 percent compared to the same period last year. At the same time, revenue increased by 3.2 percent to 2.77 billion Swiss francs.

The main reason for the lower result is sharply rising fuel costs following the conflict with Iran. Between April and June, jet fuel prices rose by around 50 percent, despite the company having price hedges.

“Fuel prices are beyond our control. Therefore, it is crucial that we continue to work on cost efficiency in the areas where we can actually influence developments,” says CFO Dennis Weber.

SWISS also points to continued high maintenance costs, including those linked to the previously known engine problems on parts of the short-haul fleet.

At the same time, demand remains strong, especially in premium classes on long-haul routes. The company carried around 8.5 million passengers in the first six months of the year, an increase of 0.6 percent, despite a 4.1 percent decrease in the number of flights.

The load factor improved by 2.2 percentage points, while traffic, measured in passenger kilometers (RPK), increased by 1.9 percent.

In the second quarter, SWISS temporarily benefited from several Middle Eastern airlines reducing their capacity, which led to increased demand for the company's flights to and from Asia. However, this effect subsided when Gulf carriers restored their traffic.

The company is already seeing results from the cost-saving measures that have been introduced and now expects to be able to keep this year's capacity at the same level as in 2025, despite previous forecasts of a decrease.

– We continue to see 2026 as a transition year where we lay the foundation for renewed growth and sustainably improved profitability from 2027, says CEO Jens Fehlinger.

According to the press release.