SWISS Offers Flight Attendants $19K Voluntary Severance Amid Overstaffing

SWISS, part of the Lufthansa Group, has informed its roughly 4,500 flight attendants that it is overstaffed and is offering voluntary severance packages of 15,000 CHF (approximately $19,000 USD) to full-time crew who leave by August 2026. The overstaffing stems from a combination of engine issues grounding A220 and A320-family aircraft and a shortage of pilots, creating an imbalance where the airline cannot operate enough flights on SWISS metal despite wet-leasing planes. Management expects balanced inventory levels not until 2027. The goal is to achieve short-term cost savings amid industry headwinds like the conflict in Iran and rising oil prices. If voluntary departures are insufficient, SWISS may implement extended unpaid leave, reduced work hours, or forced layoffs. This signals potential operational instability for passengers in the coming year