McDonnell Douglas DC-10 SWISSAIR

When Swissair became the second European costumer for the DC-2, a long connection to Douglas began, and many other European airlines followed. Other Douglas aircraft followed the footsteps of the DC-2, and only the DC-5 was not operated. So also the DC-10, the last of the Douglas commercial series. Although Swissair needed some larger aircraft, in form of 747, for its high-density routes, the DC-10 became Swissair’s flagship on its long-range routes all over the world. Together with three other airlines, KLM, SAS and UTA, together known as the KSSU - group, Swissair placed an order for six aircraft and five options (which were all taken up). On November 21st of 1972, Swissair received its first DC-10-30 together with KLM and had the honor of receiving the second oldest DC-10-30, HB-IHA, (the oldest went, after some test flights for Mc Donnell - Douglas, to KLM). Swissair was also the first airline to introduce the DC-10 on long overwater flights on December 15th 1972, flying from Zurich to Chicago (via Montreal) and was also the launch costumer for the DC-10-30ER. In the times of the crisis in the airline industry, Swissair sold its oldest DC-10, HB-IHA and HB-IHB, to Ecuatoriana and Spantax while another one, was sold to Continental Airlines in 1986. In 1992, the last DC-10 left the fleet and now Swissairs DC-10 are flying mainly for Northwest Airlines.

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