Heike Birlenbach to leave SWISS in September 2026 after 36 years within the Lufthansa Group

After 36 years in various leadership positions within the Lufthansa Group, Heike Birlenbach will leave SWISS and conclude her career within the Group as planned at the end of September 2026.

Heike Birlenbach’s Departure from SWISS
- After 36 years in leadership roles across the Lufthansa Group, Heike Birlenbach will leave at the end of September 2026.
- Since early 2024, she has served as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of SWISS, overseeing commercial divisions.

Key achievements during her tenure at SWISS include:
- Launching the SWISS Senses long-haul travel experience.
- Advancing digitalisation and modernisation of customer services.
- Strengthening customer strategy and partnerships in Switzerland.
- Initiating the repositioning of SWISS WorldCargo.

Leadership Impact
- Jens Fehlinger, CEO of SWISS, praised her for passionately representing SWISS’s premium ambition, driving customer-focused initiatives, and being a valued leader and sparring partner.
- Her departure coincides with a restructuring: the CCO role will be discontinued at airline level.
- Customer experience will be overseen directly by the CEO.
- SWISS WorldCargo will move under the Finance division.

Next Steps
- After leaving, Birlenbach plans to pursue new professional opportunities outside the Lufthansa Group.
- The transition period will be used to align leadership structures and ensure continuity.

This marks a significant leadership change for SWISS, especially as the airline continues to sharpen its premium positioning.