USC AERO / Airbus A340-300 / D-AUSC

Ton Jochems - AMS

NEW AIRLINE - FlyX Aero is a Harare-based startup airline in Zimbabwe, established around late 2025/early 2026, targeting international routes to Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

 Z-FLD - Airbus A340-312 - Photo:Firat Cimenli

The airline operates a fleet of used Airbus A340-300 aircraft and is currently working through the certification process with the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe to secure its Air Operator Certificate (AOC)

FlyX Aero has begun operations with a fleet of three Airbus A340-300s, registered as Z-FLA (formerly 9H-TQZ), Z-FLB, and Z-FLE.

NEW LIVERY - Air X / A340-300 / 9H-BIG

Flyingphotos - Lisboa

HYBRIDS cs / FLEET - Hi Fly AirbusA340-300 "Global Airlines" Livery - 9H-SUN

Photo: Flyingphotos
 

NEW AIRLINE - Switzerland's BlueLight to debut with two A340-300s

BlueLight (Geneva) is looking for two A340-300s to launch its non-profit humanitarian operations, co-founder Pierre Bernheim said. The start-up, which has reportedly raised USD8 million since announcing its plans in early November, believes the quadjets will be the best fit for its mission profiles in the initial stage. With around 900 hours of annual utilisation, Bernheim believes BlueLight can continue operating the A340-300s for some time before eventually replacing them with A330s.

CH Aviation / Images: BlueLight
 

FLEET - Global Airlines has unveiled its first Airbus A340-300, registration 9H-SUN.

The A340 retains Hi Fly's standard blue and white livery, with the Global name applied to the upper fuselage and its globe logo on the tail.

Photo: James Asquith / Global Airlines





 

NEW AIRLINE - New start-up: BlueLight Humanitarian Airlines

Founded by two pilots and enterpreneurs is a new Geneva-based start-up called BlueLight Humanitarian Airlines. This company is "dedicated exclusively to the transport of humanitarian aid, medical teams, and emergency relief, and will operate as a fully non-profit entity governed by Swiss standards of transparency and neutrality".

According to the start-up's press-release, BlueLight is planning to operate a fleet of modified Airbus A340-300s as well as the A321-200P2F. Next to its fixed-wing aircraft, it also plans to operate a fleet of large-scale drones.

It's unclear when the company aims to have its first aircraft operational and ready for service. It's also unclear where they will be sourced from.

Illustration by BlueLight Humanitarian Airlines.

 

The Airbus A340 passenger aircraft that was once in Çayırova, Kocaeli is now an "Aviation Science Center" for young people, and has been transformed from a former restaurant into an educational facility.

This new purpose is intended to inspire youth by providing them with hands-on learning opportunities related to aviation.
New purpose: The A340 has been repurposed to serve as an "Aviation Science Center".

Location: It is located in the Çayırova district of Kocaeli.

Previous function: It was previously a restaurant.

Educational goal: The center aims to inspire young people by offering them educational experiences in aviation.

 

FLEET - Edelweiss withdraws first Airbus A340-300 from service

Edelweiss transferred its first Airbus A340-300, registered HB-JMG, to long-term storage in Teruel on October 13. The aircraft exited commercial service the previous week.

The move comes as part of Edelweiss’ ongoing fleet renewal strategy. The airline is transitioning to newer, more fuel-efficient Airbus A350-900 models to reduce costs and enhance operational efficiency.

Edelweiss currently operates three A350-900s, with the first having entered service in March. Three more A350-900s are scheduled to join the fleet, enabling further phase-out of older widebodies.

Edelweiss first Airbus A350-900 (Edelweiss)

HB-JMG joined Edelweiss in October 2016, after previously operating for SWISS, which took delivery of the aircraft new from Airbus in 2003. The airframe’s withdrawal marks the start of the airline’s planned retirement of its remaining four A340-300s.

The A340-300s are configured with 27 business class and 287 economy seats. In comparison, the A350-900s offer 30 business and 309 economy seats, reflecting a capacity increase and modernized cabin experience.

Photo: Flyingphotos











The A350-900’s twin-engine design provides improved fuel efficiency over the four-engined A340-300, aligning with industry trends toward more sustainable operations. Edelweiss expects to complete the transition as additional A350s are delivered.







Leasing company secures $1.8 billion deal with options for 30 additional aircraft

 

NEW AIRLINE - FlyX Aero (Zimbabwe) plans to launch operations with four A340-300s, serials 202, 190, 483, and 367.

 Aviator

ROUTES - AIR AUSTRAL ADDS LEASED A340 IN JULY 2025

Air Austral this month (July 2025) is adding leased Airbus A340-300 aircraft from Hi-Fly, operating St. Denis de la Reunion – Paris Charles de Gaulle route. From 02JUL25 to 31JUL25, the A340 departs Paris on Wednesdays, Reunion on Thursdays.

UU971 RUN1040 – 2015CDG 77W x345
UU975 RUN1955 – 0530+1CDG 77W D
UU969 RUN2330 – 0950+1CDG 343 4

UU972 CDG1625 – 0630+1RUN 343 3
UU974 CDG1900 – 0810+1RUN 77W x3
UU972 CDG2245 – 1155+1RUN 77W x35

  Photo: Ton Jochems - AMS

FLEET - Air Senegal’ wet leased one A340-300, serial 646, from USC for use on the Dakar-Paris route, as its own A330neo undergoes maintenance.

 

AIRLINE - Manasik Aviation (Saudi Arabia) plans to launch scheduled passenger flights from Jeddah to Urumqi via Riyadh in 1H 2025.

 

Images: MANASIK

HYBRIDS C/S - KAM AIR / A340-300 / YA-KAA - ex Air Tahiti Nui , Airhub Airlines

Photo: Majid Hasankhani
 

FLEET -Surinam Airways / A340-300 / PZ-TCW

 Ton Jochems

FLEET / ROUTES - Air Mauritius added leased A340-300 from Hi Fly (Malta), primarily scheduled on Mauritius – London Gatwick route, between 26 March and 14 April 2024.

Photo: Hifly
 

FLEET - SpiceJet to wet-lease in two A340s for Hajj

SpiceJet (SG, Delhi International) has announced it will wet-lease in two A340s for its 2024 Hajj charters, with the first one due to begin operating out of Srinagar and Guwahati on May 9.

The Indian low-cost carrier said that each of the quadjets would seat up to 324 passengers but did not disclose the identity of the operator. The ch-aviation fleets module shows there are currently no A340s on the market configured for exactly 324 passengers. SpiceJet did not respond to ch-aviation's request for comment.

Besides Srinagar and Guwahati, SpiceJet plans to also operate Hajj charters out of Gaya, Bhopal, Indore, Aurangabad, and Vijayawada.

Last year, the airline wet-leased two A340-300s from Legend Airlines (Romania) (LZ, Bucharest Henri Coanda) for its Hajj operations, configured for 257 to 263 passengers. SpiceJet pocketed INR3.4 billion rupees (USD40.6 million) in revenues from more than 200 Hajj flights, carrying over 21,000 pilgrims over the season.

SpiceJet does not serve Saudi Arabia on a scheduled basis and does not operate any in-house widebodies.

CH Aviation 

FLEET - Surinam Airways to phase-out its A340

On 14 March 2024, Surinam Airways issued a press-release in which it announces the upcoming phase-out of its sole Airbus A340-300. According to the statement, the aircraft is set to leave the fleet on 24 March 2024, and will be returned to its lessor V2 Aviation.

Surinam Airways started flying commercially with PZ-TCW (921) on 11 June 2023. Originally, the lease-agreement was for eight months but that has been extended with a few months.

The airline has the intention to replace the A340 with another own longhaul-aircraft. Until they have secured this aircraft, Surinam Airways will wet-lease an Airbus A330-200 from Maleth Aero to operate the flights between Paramaribo and Amsterdam.

FLEET - Hi Fly / A340-300 / 9H-TQZ

Ton Jochems - AMS
 

Plus Ultra A340-300 EC-NBU was prepared for the return to the lessor, but due to Iberojet and Plus Ultra fleet shortage (AOG of two A330 EC-MII/EC-KOM), the lease has been extended for some days in this basic

José Ramon Valero - MAD