Swiss Global Air Lines (Zurich) has applied to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for a Foreign Air Carrier Permit and Route Exemption to allow it to offer scheduled and charter flights of passengers, cargo, and mail from any point or points behind Switzerland, via any point or points in Switzerland and any intermediate points, to any point or points in the United States and beyond.

The carrier says the application is pursuant to a wet-lease agreement in which it will operate B777-300(ER)s on Zurich-New York JFK flights for and on behalf of its Swiss (LX, Zurich) parent beginning early next year.

Last month, the Lufthansa Group confirmed it had ordered three more B777-300(ER)s for its Swiss Global subsidiary bringing to nine the total number of B777s it has on order. In its disclosure, Swiss Global said it was expecting its first jet in January next year with its planned commercial debut scheduled for February.