Edelweiss Air

of Switzerland says its return to Orlando International Airport will bring an estimated $35 million annual boost to the region.

Edelweiss Air of Switzerland said this week that its return to Orlando International Airport will bring an estimated $35 million annual boost to the region.

“We are here to stay,” said Bernd Bauer, chief executive officer of the Zurich-based airline that focuses on vacation destinations and will start Orlando service in January.

The carrier made its brief debut at Orlando International in 2011, at a time when Edelweiss was seeking to capitalize on seasonal peaks.

Bauer said Edelweiss, the smallest airline in the Lufthansa Group, is shifting its mission to focus on year-round travel. In the U.S., the carrier serves Tampa, Las Vegas and San Diego and will start service to Denver later next year.

With a single flight a week, Edelweiss anticipates nearly 11,500 passengers a year will arrive in Orlando from Zurich.

Of those, about 65 percent will be from Switzerland, Bauer said, and 20 percent to 30 percent will come from Germany and border areas.

“We expect about $35 million impact from this flight for the region,” Bauer said of annual passenger spending in Central Florida. “Swiss people travel for two weeks on average and spend on average more than [other] Europeans. It’s about $250 per day per family member.”

Bauer said service initially will be on Tuesdays and will switch to Fridays in June, “which is probably a stronger day,” and will add a second flight per week for Switzerland’s busy vacation month of October.

Edelweiss will return to a single flight each week for the winter.

Airport director Phil Brown said about 300 passengers fly each day between Switzerland and Florida, a figure that excludes those connecting for other destinations.

Orlando has about 32 passengers per day traveling to or from Switzerland, connecting through Germany or New York.

Brown said Edelweiss’ arrival at Orlando International Airport should capture some passengers who are now driving to Miami or Tampa for nonstop service to Switzerland.

Edelweiss service to Orlando will be aboard an Airbus A330-300 with seats for 315 passengers. Business class will have 27 lie-flat seats.

“Swiss people travel for two weeks on average and spend on average more than [other] Europeans. It’s about $250 per day per family member.” Bernd Bauer, Edelweiss Air of Switzerland chief executive officer