A memorable good-bye to Loganair's Saab 340 fleet
A parliamentary motion, the worlds most tracked flight on Flightradar 24 and an event including eight farewell-flights and a book.
An airlines final flight with an aircraft type is typically a non-event, possibly including a fire-truck salute on the taxi-in. Not so when Loganair, Scotland’s airline, bid farewell to the Saab 340 after 24 years of service.
Member of the Scottish parliament, Alasdair Allan, wrote a motion that the Parliament should commemorate the retirement of the Saab 340 fleet “in connecting Scotland’s rural and island communities to major cities and urban hubs on the mainland, and recognise what it considers to be the cultural significance of the Saab 340 in the history of the Highlands and Islands’ aviation industry.”
Important for the Highlands and Islands aviation infrastructure
With 430.000 Loganair Saab 340 flights carrying over 8 million passengers, there is definitely reason to celebrate as the aircraft has formed the backbone of the Highlands and Islands aviation infrastructure for a quarter of a century. Saab 340’s have carried the Olympic flame to Shetland, Orkney and Stornoway, and were used as air ambulances during the pandemic.
Loganair organized eight special farewell flights around Glasgow for those wanting to experience the Saab 340 one last time. Those seats were sold out in a couple of hours.
The final flight was a regular passenger service on the Kirkwall – Inverness – Glasgow route on Jan 25, the same route flown using the same airframe as Loganair’s first commercial Saab 340 flight, 24 years ago. Passengers received a goodiebag including a certificate signed by the crew and a copy of the new book “Three Forty-tude” released by Loganair. They were also welcomed by one of Loganair’s longest serving cabin crew members Nichola Charlish and Chief Executive Jonathan Hinkles. The flight was Piloted by Eddie Watt, Loganairs longest serving pilot turning 65 the day after, making this his final landing as an airline captain, and Lionel McClean, also retiring with this flight.
Popular on Flightradar24
Flight LM340 was the most tracked flight worldwide on the Flightradar24 network that day, a testament to the interest and commitment this workhorse of an aircraft can still generate.
The reception in Glasgow was extraordinary with a large crowd of Loganair employees together with media representatives and a Piper.
Loganair have operated 19 Saab 340’s, and all of them will continue flying with other airlines as there is still strong demand for the type on the market.