Luxury airship flights begin May 14 in Lucerne, Switzerland
Skycruise Switzerland plans full season of flights over historic area
LUCERNE, Switzerland (March 11, 2003) – Imagine sipping champagne at sunset while "skycruising" in a luxury airship and gazing through open windows at quaint Swiss villages and breathtaking Alpine scenery.
Another season for passenger flights in a Skyship 600 sightseeing airship begins on May 14 at Lucerne, it was announced today by Skycruise Switzerland, a Skycruiser Corporation company.
"We are building on the magnificent success of our passenger airship business," said Christian Schulthess, president of Skycruise Switzerland AG. "Our passengers have expressed great enthusiasm for these luxurious flights, and we completed last season with full flights and a waiting list of those wishing to fly."
"Scheduled flights will take place until October 26 over one of the most beautiful and famous landscapes in the world: the spectacular shoreline of Lake Lucerne, picturesque towns, soft hills and a splendid view of nearby mountains and glaciers which rise up to 3,500 meters (11,500 feet)," Schulthess said.
The 12-passenger Skyship 600 airship is one of the largest and most comfortable passenger-carrying airship in the world. It offers a spacious cabin with lots of headroom, windows that open in flight, first class seating, a galley for serving food and beverages, and even a lavatory.
The big Skyship 600s have proven their reliability on five continents. Operated together with Airship Management Services (an affiliated company), the Skycruise Switzerland airship is 66 meters (197 feet) long and is filled with non-flammable helium. It has a cruising speed of 50 km/h (30 mph).
An airship flight is an ideal activity to combine with other tourist activities in the Lucerne area. Only one hour by car or train from Zurich and Basel, Lucerne offers numerous popular tourism attractions such as steamboats rides, famous mountains, convention centers and holiday areas. Long one of Europe’s most heavily visited towns, Lucerne’s lakeside location and reputation as the gateway to the high Alps make it the focus of an increasing tide of international visitors.
Passenger flights are offered in three categories:
Private charters for parties and special events are also available. For booking information, visit
www.skycruise.ch, or call +41 (0) 52 354 59 74.Contact information:
In Switzerland: Christian Schulthess, +41 52 354 59 70,
ch.schulthess@skyship.chIn the U.K., Will Fanshawe, +44 (0) 1488-681484,
w.fanshawe@skycruiser.co.ukIn the U.S.: William G. Armstrong Jr., +1-203-625-0071,
airship600@aol.comAbout Skyship Cruise Ltd. / Skycruise Switzerland
Skyship Cruise, Ltd., founded in 1996 and based in Switzerland operates a Skyship 600 adapted to passenger requirements, and focuses on worldwide advertising contracts. Its affiliate company Skycruise Switzerland AG conducts passenger flights in the summer and autumn seasons (, and provides airships for commercial advertisers throughout and beyond Europe. The companies have been founded by former airline management pilots and have operated a successful commercial passenger service in Switzerland in 2002. Websites:
www.skycruise.ch and www.skyship.ch .
About Skycruiser Corporation
Skycruiser Corporation is jointly owned by the U.S. company Airship Management Services, Inc. (owners/operators of the FujiFilm airship) and Skyship Cruise Ltd. of Switzerland. Well-known Global Skyship Industries (formerly Westinghouse Airship Industries) is also owned by Skycruiser Corporation. Skycruiser Corporation and AMS maintain their principal office in Greenwich, Conn., with other offices in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Greece and Japan. The companies operate a maintenance facility and FAA design and maintenance center at Skycruiser Corporation’s base in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. AMS personnel have been providing flight crew; technical expertise and ground support to airships since 1980 and have operated airships in Japan, Korea, Australia, the U.K., U.S.A., Canada, the Dominican Republic, Germany, France and Switzerland. All crew are fully licensed by the relevant civil aviation authorities. Website:
www.airshipman.com