Switzerland’s national airline Swiss will start operating six flights a day between Heathrow and Geneva from January.

The carrier said it was adding the flights to plug a gap in its network and to meet demand from business travellers and leisure customers, particularly skiers.

Swiss has not previously operated a year-round service between Heathrow and Geneva, but ran a weekend service during the last ski season.

It will reduce its London City-Geneva flights from six to four a day as a result, but overall the move will mean a 30% increase in the carrier's seat capacity between Switzerland and the UK.

The new Heathrow-Geneva services will be operated by two Airbus A320s, one initially provided by BMI which, like Swiss, is part of the Lufthansa Group.

Co-operation between BMI and Swiss will be extended early next year when all flights between the UK and Switzerland will be operated under a code-share.

Swiss will also start a winter service from Manchester to Geneva next month.

Swiss said it was able to add the extra flights because of its strong financial position, which saw it post net profits of £66.8 million for the first nine months of 2009.

The airline has upgraded its facilities at Geneva airport, including new First, Business and Senator Lounges.

At Heathrow, it offers a new Star Alliance and BMI lounge, plus a fast-track option.

“No other airline offers a more attractive range of services to Switzerland from London’s most central airports, Heathrow and London City,” said Swiss chief executive Harry Hohmeister.

Gregor Koncilja, Swiss's country manager for the UK and Ireland, said the expansion meant the airline now offered 33 daily flights between Switzerland and the UK.

“Geneva and its surrounding region are important and popular for a host of reasons, with a multitude of international corporations having headquarters there.

“It’s also significant for leisure travellers, with Geneva representing the primary gateway to the Swiss, French and Italian Alps and for the many west London-based Britons owning properties in the Greater Geneva area,” he added.

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