Swiss International Air Lines Air Cargo Profile
Review verified carrier details, codes, cargo operations, hubs, fleet information, and network coverage where available.
Swiss International Air Lines
IATA: LXSwiss WorldCargo, the belly-freight division of Lufthansa Group member Swiss International Air Lines, operating from its Zurich hub.
Swiss International Air Lines was founded in 2002 as the successor to Swissair, which had collapsed the previous year, and built its operation around the regional carrier Crossair. It uses the IATA code LX and inherited Swissair's ICAO code SWR to retain international traffic rights. The airline is headquartered in Kloten, near Zurich Airport, and has been a wholly owned member of the Lufthansa Group since 2005. It is a member of the Star Alliance. Its cargo activities are marketed under the Swiss WorldCargo brand, also established in 2002 alongside the airline itself.
Swiss International Air Lines at a glance
- Cargo division
- Swiss WorldCargo
- Headquarters
- Kloten (near Zurich), Switzerland
- Founded
- 2002
- IATA / ICAO code
- LX / SWR
- Cargo fleet
- No dedicated freighters. Swiss WorldCargo is a belly-cargo operation carried in the holds of the SWISS passenger fleet, principally the widebodies: about 12 Boeing 777-300ER, roughly 14 Airbus A330-300, a small number of A340-300, and A350-900 (in service from 2025 with more on order). Additional capacity comes from the narrowbody A220 and A320 family on regional and European routes, supplemented by an extensive dedicated road-feeder trucking network across Europe.
- Cargo hubs
- Zurich (ZRH), with additional gateways at Geneva (GVA) and Basel (BSL)
- Parent group
- Lufthansa Group
- Alliance
- Star Alliance
- Main cargo routes
- Europe to North America (transatlantic), Europe to Asia, Europe to Middle East, and Europe to Africa, feeding the wider Lufthansa Group cargo network
- Official website
- www.swiss.com
About Swiss International Air Lines
Swiss International Air Lines was founded in 2002 as the successor to Swissair, which had collapsed the previous year, and built its operation around the regional carrier Crossair. It uses the IATA code LX and inherited Swissair's ICAO code SWR to retain international traffic rights. The airline is headquartered in Kloten, near Zurich Airport, and has been a wholly owned member of the Lufthansa Group since 2005. It is a member of the Star Alliance. Its cargo activities are marketed under the Swiss WorldCargo brand, also established in 2002 alongside the airline itself.
Swiss WorldCargo operates entirely on belly capacity, carrying freight in the holds of SWISS passenger aircraft rather than dedicated freighters. The bulk of tonnage moves in the widebody fleet, principally Boeing 777-300ER, Airbus A330-300 and A340-300 aircraft, with A350-900s entering service from 2025. Narrowbody A220 and A320 family jets add capacity on regional and European routes, and a dedicated road-feeder trucking network links smaller European points to the hub. The network reaches over 130 destinations in more than 80 countries, extended further through the Lufthansa Group cargo system.
Zurich Airport (ZRH) is the operational core, handling roughly 95 percent of Swiss WorldCargo shipments, with additional gateways at Geneva (GVA) and Basel (BSL). The division positions itself on care-intensive, high-value and time-critical traffic rather than bulk volume, with specialised products for pharmaceuticals and healthcare (CEIV Pharma certified, temperature-controlled cool-chain handling), valuables such as gold, banknotes and art held in secure vaults, perishables, and dangerous goods. Since 2024 Swiss WorldCargo has deepened commercial and operational cooperation with sister carrier Lufthansa Cargo, integrating Zurich into the Lufthansa Group multi-hub cargo network.
Using this airline profile
Use the IATA and ICAO codes, cargo division, hubs, and network information on this page to identify the operating carrier and confirm shipment details with Swiss International Air Lines or your freight forwarder.
Swiss International Air Lines air cargo FAQ
Does Swiss WorldCargo operate dedicated freighter aircraft?
No. Swiss WorldCargo has no dedicated freighters. It carries all air freight in the belly holds of SWISS passenger aircraft, mainly the widebody Boeing 777-300ER, Airbus A330-300, A340-300 and A350-900, supported by a European road-feeder trucking network.
What are Swiss WorldCargo's IATA and ICAO codes and main hub?
The airline uses IATA code LX and ICAO code SWR, the latter inherited from predecessor Swissair. Its main cargo hub is Zurich Airport (ZRH), where roughly 95 percent of shipments are handled, with further gateways at Geneva (GVA) and Basel (BSL).
Who owns Swiss International Air Lines and what does its cargo arm specialise in?
SWISS is a wholly owned member of the Lufthansa Group and part of the Star Alliance. Its cargo division, Swiss WorldCargo, focuses on high-value, care-intensive traffic including CEIV Pharma certified pharmaceuticals, secure valuables such as gold and art, perishables and dangerous goods.