Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Aerospace
  • /
  • Loganair bids a fond farewell to the Saab 340

Aerospace

Loganair bids a fond farewell to the Saab 340

Loganair has retired its venerable Saab 340 fleet after more than 24 years of service, with a VIP send-off of the last Saab flight conducted by the airline.

Above: (left to right) Captain Eddie Watt and Jonathan Hinkles, CEO, Loganair.
Courtesy Loganair

Flight LM340 – which was named after the iconic aircraft – flew from Kirkwall to Inverness before departing for its last majestic swoop down into Glasgow Airport, following the path of the first ever Loganair Saab 340 flight. Today also marked the 41st anniversary of the first Saab 340 flight worldwide.

Advertisement
DSEI 2025

A workhorse of the skies and the former mainstay of Loganair’s islands services, the airline’s 18 Saab 340s completed more than 430,000 flights – both passenger and cargo – and carried in excess of eight million customers over their lifetime.

In 2012, a Loganair Saab 340 carried the Olympic flame to Shetland, Orkney and Stornoway in the Western Isles and during the Covid-19 pandemic two of the airline’s Saab 340s were converted to be used as additional air ambulances. This ensured remote patients could access vital healthcare on the mainland.  

The Saab 340s are being replaced by Loganair’s new ATR turboprops aircraft, which are larger, quieter and more efficient, allowing Loganair to carry up to 45% more customers on some routes and supporting its ambition of offering greater numbers of lower air fares. The ATR fleet will also help to boost the resilience of Loganair as there is greater availability of pilots licensed to fly the aircraft.

Loganair’s last Saab 340 flight was flown by Captain Eddie Watt, who tomorrow celebrates his 65th birthday and will retire from the business. A Shetlander, Eddie is Loganair’s longest serving pilot, after joining the airline on 1st October 1996. He is renowned among crews and customers for his commentaries from the cockpit and was joined by his wife Rosemary who was among the passengers on board.

The flight was crewed by Lionel McClean, also completing his last commercial flight before retiring in April and Nichola Charlish, who is Loganair’s longest-serving cabin crew member in Aberdeen.

LM340 touched down to a salute by water cannons and a piper on the tarmac, before taxiing into Loganair’s hangar at Glasgow Airport.

Kent Lindgren, Vice President, Sales and Marketing Saab Regional Aircraft, who was on board the flight, said: “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.”

Jonathan Hinkles, CEO, Loganair, said: “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 eight million customers along with food, newspapers, pets and mail.

Advertisement
Teledyne

“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.

“Today we celebrate another special retirement with the departure of Captain Eddie Watt after 34 years of service. He has made a remarkable contribution to Loganair and we wish him well on his next chapter.”

Captain Eddie Watt added: “It is fitting for me that I retire with the aircraft that has been the staple of my career. Piloting the Saab340, I have watched all of Scotland pass underneath me and it’s been an incredible 34 years flying with this beloved aircraft.”

 

 

 

 

Advertisement
PTC PTC
Viasat test boosts business jet in-flight connectivity

Aerospace

Viasat test boosts business jet in-flight connectivity

8 July 2025

Viasat today announced a milestone for its JetXP business aviation in-flight broadband service, following recent test flights that successfully connected the Global Aero Terminal (GAT) 5510 to a ViaSat-3 satellite for the first time.

ST Engineering Antycip’s Merlin MP521 advances student innovation

Aerospace

ST Engineering Antycip’s Merlin MP521 advances student innovation

8 July 2025

Khalifa University of Science and Technology today announced major student and faculty achievements resulting from the use of ST Engineering Antycip’s Merlin MP521 Flight Simulator, which provides hands-on experience in aircraft design and performance evaluation, directly contributing to a growing body of student-led research and academic ...

Birmingham Airport sees busiest ever June

Aerospace

Birmingham Airport sees busiest ever June

8 July 2025

Birmingham Airport (BHX) has had its busiest June ever, with a record 1,360,957 passengers travelling through the airport last month.

Advanced Engineering 2025 extends additives and composites spotlight

Aerospace Events

Advanced Engineering 2025 extends additives and composites spotlight

7 July 2025

Taking place on 29th and 30th October 2025 at the NEC Birmingham, Advanced Engineering will have a new expanded Composites Pavilion, SME Village, the ADS Pavilion, AM2 Forum (Additive Manufacturing and Advanced Materials Forum) and a focused Electronics Zone.

Advertisement
Teledyne
CAA appoints experts to strengthen economic regs and growth

Aerospace

CAA appoints experts to strengthen economic regs and growth

7 July 2025

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has appointed a team of specialists at the forefront of economics and competition policy to provide strategic advice to the aviation regulator on economic regulation and the challenges and opportunities in enabling the aviation sector to transform and grow.

Skyports and Ajman Transport to advance AAM in Ajman

Aerospace

Skyports and Ajman Transport to advance AAM in Ajman

7 July 2025

Ajman Transport Authority has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Skyports Infrastructure, with the aim of exploring opportunities for cooperation in the field of advanced air mobility (AAM) for smart aerial transport, including air taxi services, in the Emirate.

Advertisement
DSEI 2025