Farewell to an emblem: Loganair retired its last SAAB 340

The latest SAAB 340 from Loganair completed its final flight from Kirkwall Airport (KOI) to Glasgow (GLA), marking the end of a cycle that lasted over 24 years.

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The aircraft with registration G-LGNA departed from KOI at 10:20 (local time) and arrived at GLA at 12:10, after a stopover at Inverness Airport (INV). Piloting the plane were Captains Eddie Watt and Lionel McClean, along with cabin crew member Nichola Charlish.

The last SAAB 340 of Loganair is 33 years old, taking its inaugural flight on June 5, 1990, and initially delivered to the American airline Metroflight in July of the same year. On June 11, 1999, it joined the Scottish airline, adorned in British Airways livery.

In October 2008, it transitioned to the colors of the now-defunct Flybe, and after Flybe’s closure, it adopted the Loganair livery. This shift in liveries highlights the extensive history and value that the SAAB 340 holds for the Scottish company.

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A Stronghold for Loganair

The fleet of SAAB 340 aircraft was a cornerstone in Loganair’s operations for 24 years. The company operated 22 planes from the Swedish manufacturer in all their variations.

These aircraft operated from the company’s base in Aberdeen Dyce (ABZ), connecting primarily to the airports of Sumburgh, Kirkwall, and Edinburgh. Loganair operated all variants of the SAAB 340, from the 340A to the 2000 series, the longest version with a capacity for 50 passengers and equipped with a glass cockpit.

Replacing the SAAB 340

Loganair chose the family of turboprops ATR to replace the SAAB 340. Currently, it has a fleet of seven ATR 42 and ten ATR 72, with plans to receive three additional aircraft of the 72 variant soon. In addition, it operates three De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter and thirteen Embraer ERJ-145 jets.