First, Germany. Now, Switzerland. Q2 was chock-full of global wins for San Diego. The San Diego International Airport recently announced a new nonstop service to Zurich, Switzerland. Edelweiss, a Swiss leisure carrier owned by the German airline Lufthansa, will operate flights between the two cities on Mondays and Fridays starting in 2017.

As part of EDC’s efforts to increase San Diego’s global competitiveness, EDC and World Trade Center San Diego (WTC San Diego) worked in partnership with the San Diego Tourism Authority to support the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority in bringing Edelweiss’ nonstop seasonal service to Switzerland. Making the case for San Diego, WTC San Diego provided data and research on economic ties to the European innovation hub.

Why Switzerland matters to San Diego:

• Switzerland ranks third among all nations for the most foreign employment in San Diego.
• Swiss companies such as Novartis and Genentech call San Diego their home.
• In 2011, more than 50 percent of all Swiss employment entered San Diego through M&A activity.

Airport Authority CEO Thella Bowens said that with the addition of the flight, San Diego will have direct service to six countries and add to the list of foreign airlines operating out of Lindbergh Field.