Recently, Edelweiss marked its historic inaugural flight from Zurich to Seattle with an Airbus A340. I was thrilled not only to welcome a new international carrier at my local airport but also to see the iconic A340 in action. Francis Zera (our Editor-At-Large and Director of Photography) and I experienced the lively event together and it was quite delightful.

Edelweiss Airbus A340 An Edelweiss Airbus A340

Covering such inaugural events has become quite standard; there are decorations, tarmac views, water cannon salutes, speeches by VIPs, a ribbon cutting, and delightful snacks. While this was exciting, I faced an unexpected twist during the celebrations.

Fire trucks ready The fire trucks, ready to go!

Before Edelweiss’s arrival, I had edited a piece by Francis about another inaugural flight where he got unexpectedly drenched due to a water cannon salute’s wind direction. I chuckled at his experience but thought it might just be a bit misty for me. However, as I positioned myself near the runway, I found myself right next to a fire truck, reminding me of Francis’s “water incident”.

Water salute It’s hard to tell, but I was as wet as if I jumped into a pool. Totally worth it!

As the Edelweiss A340 landed beautifully and taxied toward the gate, I was captivated by the aircraft. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice the fire truck was directing a solid stream of water towards me, and before I knew it, I was completely drenched!

A wet surprise My excitement turned into a splash!

Soaked from head to toe, this unexpected shower turned out to be refreshing, especially in the warm weather. It was the best inaugural experience ever!

Capturing the moment Francis captured my shocked reaction!

Flights from Zurich to Seattle are currently available for booking in September 2025 and expected to continue between May and August 2026.