Swiss voters clear government support for Swissair bailout
Swiss voters have cleared government support for a successor to financially troubled Swissair.
A referendum has approved a 300 million Swiss franc (€200m) investment by Zurich regional authorities.
The 55.5% approval is seen as crucial to gain support from other cantons for the rescue package proposed by the federal government.
The federal government and private corporations are also contributing to the plan, under which regional Swiss carrier Crossair is taking over many Swissair services.
A new name for the carrier has yet to be determined.
The rescue package is built around the so-called 26-26 option, under which Crossair will add 26 Swissair regional jetliners and 26 long-haul planes to its fleet of smaller planes to maintain service in Europe and around the world.
Zurich voters gave an even stronger vote of confidence Sunday to Zurich Airport, approving with 67.6 percent yes votes a 100 million franc (€68m) credit to the facility.
Swissair has been the major user of the airport, Switzerland's largest.
Zurich's approval of the Crossair package was expected to encourage other cities and cantons to contribute their shares. Analysts had said a no vote would have put the whole rescue in doubt.
Favoring the Crossair package were 185,903 voters compared with 149,035 against, with a participation of 43.3 percent of those eligible.
