Scottish carrier Loganair has retired its Saab 340 fleet after more than 24 years of service, with a historic final flight from Inverness to Glasgow.
The regional airline conducted its final Saab 340 service on 25 January, with flight LM340 flying from Kirkwall to Inverness and Glasgow airport – mimicking the path of the carrier’s first ever Saab 340 flight.
The final flight was fittingly flown by Loganair’s longest serving pilot, Captain Eddie Watt, who joined the airline on 1 October, 1996, and is also retiring from the business. He commented: “It is fitting for me that I retire with the aircraft that has been the staple of my career. Piloting the Saab 340, I have watched all of Scotland pass underneath me and it’s been an incredible 34 years flying with this beloved aircraft.”
The flight touched down to a salute by water cannons and a piper on the tarmac at Glasgow airport, and also coincided with the 41st anniversary of the first Saab 340 flight worldwide.
The carrier’s fleet of 18 Saab 340s were mainly used for island services and completed more than 430,000 flights, both passenger and cargo, over their term and carried over eight million customers.
Memorable moments include carrying the Olympic flame to Shetland in Orkney and Stornaway in the Western Isles for the 2012 Olympic Games, while two of the airline’s Saab 340s were converted into air ambulances during the Covid-19 pandemic, ensuring that remote patients on the islands could access healthcare on the mainland.
The Saab 340s are being replaced by the carrier’s new ATR turboprops aircraft, which Loganair says can “carry up to 45 per cent more customers on some routes” and also support “its ambition of offering greater numbers of lower air fares”. Loganair added that there are a greater number of pilots licensed to fly the ATR aircraft.
Jonathan Hinkles, CEO, Loganair, commented:
“It really is a historic moment for Loganair. The Saab 340s have been essential to our operation of island services over the years, connecting remote communities with the mainland and delivering over 8 million customers along with food, newspapers, pets and mail.
“As someone whose aviation journey was prompted by a strong passion for flying, I am personally very sad to see these aircraft go, but we look forward to introducing our new ATR fleet to our customers who will love the space and comfort they offer.”
Kent Lindgren, VP sales and marketing at Saab Regional Aircraft, who was on board the flight, added:
“Loganair has been a valued customer and operator of Saab regional aircraft for a quarter of a century. Professional operators are essential to any aircraft’s success, and Loganair really stepped up to form an important part of the Saab 340 and 2000 community. Flying in some of the world’s harshest environments, Loganair’s operation has been of immense value to Saab, both as a testament to the quality of the platforms and for the technical feedback this has given us.
“Saab would like to thank Loganair for 25 years of safe Saab-operations, serving so many Scottish communities and allowing regions and relationships to prosper.”
