Title: SWISSAIR Flugplan ・ Horaire (Swissair Flight Plan & Timetable) Year/Season: Summer 1958 (Sommer 1958) Period: April 1, 1958 - October 31, 1958 Edition: No. 52 d Size: Approximately 21 x 11 cm Contents: International flight schedules including Europe, North America, the Middle East, and the Far East, fare tables, seat maps, route maps, and service information. Languages: German and French A Special Journey in the Sky with Swissair in 1958: An Elegant Flight from the Far East to Europe. This valuable timetable conveys the extremely sophisticated air travel offered by Swissair in the summer of 1958, just before the world ushered in the jet age. This booklet is a valuable document, encapsulating the dreams and romance of international air travel in the 1950s, which was marketed not just as a means of transportation, but as "luxurious escapism." Luxury Symbolized by the Main Aircraft and Long-Haul Routes of the Time The seat maps (Sitzpläne der Swissair-Flugzeuge) in the timetable showcase the iconic aircraft that were the mainstays of Swissair's long-haul routes at the time: 1. Douglas DC-7C "Seven Seas" 2. Convair CV-440 "Metropolitan" Travel from the Far East (Japan) to Europe did not have direct flights like today. It involved multiple transfers via Bangkok, Bombay (Mumbai), Manila, Hong Kong, or New York. This "grand voyage spanning the globe" required ample time and considerable expense. Therefore, those who could utilize these flights were limited to international business executives, diplomats, or wealthy travelers seeking long-term stays. What is particularly eye-catching in the booklet is the photograph of the first-class in-flight meals. The service, titled "Gourmets in 6000 Meter Höhe" (Gourmets at 6000 Meters), featured in-flight meals supervised by chefs from top Swiss hotels (Grand Hotels). The meals were prepared with the finest ingredients and techniques, served with silverware and beautiful glassware instead of plastic, and accompanied by a generous selection of wines and champagne.