Swiss, the national airline of Switzerland (obviously!), has announced that it will be adding a new route to its network.

Normally this wouldn’t necessarily concern us at Whitelines, but it just so happens that the new route they’re adding is from Manchester to Geneva, so the news may well put a smile on the faces of shredders from the north-west.

The flights now cost £77 return. Because Swiss is a sensible airline this price will probably include things like drinks, and you won’t find yourself having to pay a surcharge for your life-jacket should you crash. Most importantly, this price includes free transportation of board bags, so you won’t have to pay through the nose to carry your stick to the snow. This is a big advantage, as several other airlines – including British Airways – have recently upped their charges for handling snowboard bags.

Planes will leave Manchester for the land of cuckoo clocks twice a week, on Saturdays and Sundays. The flights will depart at the relatively civilised times of 17.15 on Saturday afternoon, arriving in Geneva at 20.15. On Sundays they will be leaving at 10 in the morning and arrive at 13.00. Flying back they depart at 15.35 on Saturdays and 08.15 on Sunday mornings.

Gregor Koncilja, country manager UK and Ireland at Swiss, said, “We are delighted to be reintroducing connection between the UK and Switzerland, which was so popular last season. It demonstrates our commitment to both tourism in the Lake Geneva area and to our customers in northern England, north Wales and Scotland.”

Nice one Gregor.