Swiss International Air Lines will today outline restructuring plans for its struggling regional fleet in the latest round of cost cuts aimed at speeding its path to profitability.

Earlier, Swiss had asked the bourse to suspend trade in its shares until 11 a.m. today "to prevent any uncertainty on the capital markets".

A weekend newspaper report said one possible option for the regional unit - part of the European business, where passenger numbers are dwindling - would be to turn it into a separate company, making it easier for Swiss to tackle high labour costs.

"This might enable Swiss to trim the cost structure of this company to a level required for this type of service and also to show the loss of this division, which will give them more ability to discuss further cost reductions," Helvea analyst Mr Matthias Egger said.

Passenger loads have been low on Swiss's European routes, where it fills on average just over half of its available seats.

Faced by cut-throat competition, high oil prices and talk that Swiss is still too large for its small home market, the airline has slashed jobs, its route network and fleet.