The first scheduled service between Bristol and Zurich for more than four years has taken to the skies as Helvetic Airways launched a new route linking the Swiss financial centre with the South West.

The new service gives businesses across the region convenient access to the home of the world’s fourth biggest stock exchange, and Zurich also has much to offer leisure travellers, including skiers (the city’s airport serves renowned resorts such as Klosters, Grindelwald and Wengen).

For Swiss passengers, Bristol Airport provides an ideal gateway to the South West countryside made popular in the Germanlanguage television adaptation of Rosamunde Pilcher’s novels set in the region.

Bruno Jans, chief executive officer of Helvetic Airways, said: “With flights to Bristol we are developing our service in an economically strong region of the British Isles, providing business travellers with a fast link to Zurich. For Swiss tourists, Bristol is an ideal starting point for leisure trips.”

Robert Sinclair, chief executive officer at Bristol Airport, said: “The launch of Helvetic Airways’ new service to Zurich reconnects the South West to this important business destination.

We are confident the region’s business community will make Helvetic welcome by getting behind this new route, which has long been on the wish list of passengers.”

Helvetic Airways becomes the 12th scheduled airline operating from Bristol Airport. Flights will be operated by a Fokker 100.