SWISS has retired its first remaining Airbus A340-300, sending 23-year-old HB-JMB on its final flight from Zurich to Enschede Airport Twente in the Netherlands. The aircraft operated as LX5202 on 14 October, following its last commercial passenger service from Boston to Zurich, and will be dismantled by Aircraft End-of-Life Solutions (AELS).
Before dismantling, SWISS technicians will remove selected components that remain the airline’s property. HB-JMB joined the fleet in 2003 and completed its final passenger flight on 8 October, ending more than two decades of long-haul service.
Three A340-300s remain in the SWISS fleet, although their individual retirement dates have not been finalised. The four-engine aircraft are being replaced by Airbus A350-900s, which offer lower fuel consumption and more efficient twin-engine operation.
The final aircraft, HB-JMH, is currently expected to remain in service until the first quarter of 2028. SWISS and the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne are considering preserving it as an exhibit, but funding, technical and regulatory arrangements still need to be resolved. The other two aircraft are expected to leave the fleet earlier.