An Airbus A340 for Switzerland: SWISS and the Swiss Museum of Transport plan joint project

SWISS and the Swiss Museum of Transport are seeking to preserve a piece of Swiss aviation history together: once it reaches the end of its operational life, the last Airbus A340-300 in the SWISS fleet is to find a permanent home at the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne. Before this can happen, however, a number of complex technical, financial and regulatory issues still need to be resolved.

For many years, the Airbus A340-300 was a defining feature of the SWISS long-haul fleet, connecting Switzerland with destinations around the world. With its four engines, distinctive silhouette and role as a reliable backbone of long-haul operations, it became a familiar symbol of the SWISS fleet for many travellers and employees. As the last four-engined aircraft type in the SWISS fleet, the A340 also marks the end of an era at SWISS.

Once its operational life comes to an end, one of these iconic long-haul aircraft is now intended to be preserved in Switzerland: SWISS and the Swiss Museum of Transport aim to permanently integrate the last Airbus A340-300 from the SWISS fleet into the museum’s aviation exhibition in Lucerne.

Martin Ettlinger, Director of the Swiss Museum of Transport: “Having an Airbus A340 at the Swiss Museum of Transport represents a unique opportunity to preserve an important piece of Swiss aviation history and make it accessible to the public. This majestic aircraft would be a tremendous addition to our Aviation and Space Travel exhibition. The A340-300 fits perfectly into the outdoor area designated for it in front of the Aviation and Space Travel Hall. Bringing an aircraft of this size to Lucerne, however, is an enormous and highly complex undertaking. We are doing everything we can, together with SWISS and other partners, to make this extraordinary project possible.”

A gift for Switzerland

SWISS intends to donate the last Airbus A340-300 in its fleet to the Swiss Museum of Transport. The aim is to preserve an aircraft that for many years symbolized Switzerland’s international connectivity and played a major role in shaping the history of SWISS and Swiss long-haul aviation.

Jens Fehlinger, CEO of SWISS: “For many years, the Airbus A340 connected people in Switzerland with the world and, in doing so, became a piece of Swiss aviation history in its own right. If one of these aircraft can live on at the Swiss Museum of Transport, it would bring this story full circle in a very special way. Our goal is therefore clear: we want to bring this A340 to Lucerne in early 2028. The task now is to work with our many partners to make its extraordinary journey there possible.”

A new highlight for the Swiss Museum of Transport

The A340 is not simply intended to be placed in the courtyard of the Swiss Museum of Transport as a static exhibit. The aim is to create a multifaceted experience inside the aircraft and present it as a new highlight of the Aviation and Space Travel exhibition.

The museum already has a former four-engined Swissair long-haul aircraft in its collection: the Convair 990 “Coronado”. The Airbus A340-300 would add another important witness to aviation history. As the last four-engined aircraft type in the SWISS fleet, the A340 represents a significant era in Swiss long-haul aviation.

A logistical feat requiring perfect teamwork

Bringing a long-haul aircraft weighing around 125 tons to the Swiss Museum of Transport involves far more than an ordinary transport operation. It is a major logistical and technical undertaking. The A340 must make its way from Zurich Airport to Lucerne, be positioned with precision on the museum grounds and permanently integrated into the existing exhibition. Meeting the highly demanding technical and logistical requirements will require detailed feasibility studies, specialized transport solutions, structural modifications and close coordination with the relevant authorities.

The project is also financially ambitious. SWISS will donate the aircraft to the Swiss Museum of Transport. The museum will bear the costs of transporting the aircraft, the necessary structural work and the creation of the visitor experience inside the aircraft. Current estimates put the cost at a high single-digit million amount. Financing must be secured by the end of 2026 and is expected to come largely from third-party funding provided by foundations, patrons and companies. A fundraising committee, with the active involvement of Christoph Franz, President of the Swiss Museum of Transport Association and former CEO of SWISS, is already holding discussions with potential supporters.

It has therefore not yet been decided whether the A340 will actually be able to embark on its final journey to Lucerne. A definitive decision will only be made once transportation, permits and financing have been secured. The Swiss Museum of Transport and SWISS will provide further information on the next steps as soon as the ongoing assessments have progressed further.