The Swedish-made Saab 340A turboprop has been in the skies for many years. But with its advancing age and growing retirements, it is becoming an increasingly rare sight in both passenger and cargo operations.
The Saab 340A aircraft, designed to carry between 30 and 36 passengers, enjoyed popularity in the 1990s and the early 2000s. However, the list of current operators of the Saab 340A is short and appears to be shrinking.
According to ch-aviation.com, Flightradar24.com, and Flightaware.com data, only four remaining operators have a fleet of active Saab 340A turboprop aircraft. Which operators are these? Let’s explore to find out.
TAG Airlines
Transportes Aéreos Guatemaltecos (TAG) is currently the largest operator of the Saab 340A turboprop aircraft. According to ch-aviation data, the Guatemalan passenger and cargo airline has a fleet of five active Swedish-manufactured turboprops with an average age of 35.2 years old. Data from ch-aviation also indicates that each TAG’s Saab 340A can accommodate 34 passengers in a one-class layout. TAG Airlines remains the best bet for flying on a Saab 340A turboprop.
According to Flightaware.com data, the latest flight by TAG’s Saab 340A (registration TG-TAW) was operated between Guatemala City La Aurora International Airport (GUA) and Oaxaca Xoxocotlan International Airport (OAX) on January 18, 2023.
Pacific Coastal Airlines
Canadian regional carrier Pacific Coastal Airlines (PCA) ranks as the second-largest operator of the Saab 340A turboprop. The airline currently has a fleet of two active Saab 340As. Having an average age of 37.3 years old, the airline’s two Saab 340As have a layout of 30 seats in a one-class configuration, according to ch-aviation data.
The airline operates its Saab 340A (registration C-GPCN) on regional flights within Canada. The airline’s flights operate between its base at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Masset (MZT), Port Hardy (YZT), or Bella Bella (ZEL) airports, according to Flightradar24.com data. Meanwhile, the second Saab 340A (registration C-GPCQ) operates exclusively between YVR airport and Calgary International Airport (YYC).
Rex Airlines
The Australian regional airline also offers the chance to fly on a Saab 340A turboprop. REX - Regional Express is known to have a hefty fleet of Saab 340 aircraft, consisting of 58 Saab 340s, 57 of which are second-generation Saab 340B turboprops.
While most of them are 340Bs, ch-aviation data shows that there is still one first-generation 33-year-old Saab 340A turboprop active in its fleet. The aircraft, which has a layout of 34 seats, usually operates regional routes in Australia, namely between Adelaide Airport (ADL) and Mount Gambier Airport (MGB) as well as Port Lincoln Airport (PLO), according to Flightradar24.com.
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SprintAir
The Polish passenger charter and cargo carrier SprintAir is the fourth and final airline with a remaining Saab 340A turboprop in its fleet. According to ch-aviation data, the airline’s Saab 340A can accommodate 33 passengers in a one-class configuration.
Interestingly, the 33.6-year-old Saab is currently wet-leased to Croatian charter airline Trade Air and operates flights between Croatia’s sunny destinations, including Dubrovnik (DBV) and Split (SPU), and Rijeka (RJK) and Ojisek (OSI).
Sources: ch-aviation.com, Flightradar24.com, Flightaware.com