Swissair to cut 9,000 jobs
Swissair says it will cut 9,000 jobs and offer reduced-price tickets to lure more customers.
Swissair chief Mario Corti told an employees' assembly about the job cuts, which will apply to the 71,000 staff worldwide.
Spokesman Rainer Maier said the meeting was "very emotional", and that the 2,500 employees who had gathered in an airport hangar to hear Mr Corti greeted him with a standing ovation and chants of "Corti, Corti".
Mr Maier said the airline's chief assured workers that their salaries were secure through October.
Employee demonstrations have previously backed Mr Corti and credited him with trying to save the airline.
Separately, Swissair has announced that its new prices for a standard round-trip, economy class flight in Europe would cost 300 Swiss francs (£126), plus airport taxes, to cash-paying customers.
Depending on destination, that could be a saving of more than 1,000 Swiss francs - that's £421.
Spokeswoman Trudi von Fellenberg said the comparable cash business class fare within Europe would be 800 Swiss francs (£337), plus airport taxes.
Long-distance flights - to Europe, Asia and Africa - are set at 800 Swiss francs (£337) in economy class; 3,000 Swiss francs (£1,266) in business class; and 7,000 Swiss francs (£2,953) in first class.
Ms Von Fellenberg said the offer was valid for all flights until October 27, except flights to and from Japan.
