Summary
For aviation enthusiasts looking to log an increasingly rare Airbus A340-300, there are some particularly interesting opportunities coming up this autumn – without having to book a long-haul flight.
Swiss leisure airline Edelweiss Air has announced that it will deploy both its Airbus A340-300 and newer Airbus A350-900 aircraft on a number of short- and medium-haul routes from Zurich during the early part of its 2026/27 winter programme.
That creates the unusual prospect of flying a four-engined A340 on a journey of just a few hours – as well as sampling Edelweiss’s new A350 on a European leisure route.
Here are the routes to look out for.
Edelweiss A340s on European and Canary Islands Routes
James E Selby, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Edelweiss normally uses its Airbus A320 family aircraft on routes around Europe and to destinations in North Africa and the Canary Islands.
However, additional demand during the autumn holiday period means some flights will receive a substantial capacity upgrade.
The most interesting substitutions are:
Zurich – Gran Canaria
Airbus A340-300
Fridays and Sundays from October until mid-November 2026
Zurich – Tenerife
Airbus A340-300
Mondays during October 2026
Zurich – Rhodes
Airbus A340-300
Saturdays during October 2026
Edelweiss has also added an extra Rhodes flight on 30 October, although enthusiasts should check the aircraft scheduled when booking.
The airline says the larger A340s are being deployed because of strong demand during the autumn holiday period.
Why the Edelweiss A340 Is Worth Seeking Out
The Airbus A340 has become a much less common sight around the world’s airports over the past decade.
Edelweiss currently has just three Airbus A340-300s, alongside four A350-900s in its long-haul fleet. Two further A350s are expected by the end of 2026.
The airline’s A340s are former SWISS aircraft and seat up to 314 passengers across Business, Economy Max and Economy.
For anyone trying to add an A340 flight to their logbook, these short-haul substitutions are therefore particularly attractive. Rather than committing to a flight from Switzerland to Africa, Asia or the Americas, you can experience the aircraft on a holiday route across Europe or to the Canary Islands.
The Zurich-Rhodes flights are arguably the most interesting of all, as they offer the chance to fly an A340 entirely within Europe.
Gran Canaria and Tenerife offer longer sectors, meanwhile, giving you several hours aboard the aircraft while still avoiding the cost and commitment of a genuine long-haul journey.
Fly the Edelweiss A350 to Crete
It’s not only the A340 getting some short-haul work.
Edelweiss will also deploy its Airbus A350-900 between Zurich and Heraklion in Crete.
Zurich – Heraklion
Airbus A350-900
Saturdays during the autumn period
These flights would normally be operated by an A320, but the airline is substituting the much larger A350 to provide additional capacity. Heraklion services themselves have also been extended until the beginning of December.
This represents another interesting opportunity for aircraft enthusiasts.
Edelweiss only introduced the A350 into its fleet in 2025, becoming the first Swiss airline to operate the type. It currently has four examples, with the fleet due to grow to six by the end of 2026.
The aircraft are progressively replacing the ageing A340s and will form the backbone of the airline’s future long-haul fleet.
So if you’re keen to log both generations, this autumn could offer a particularly good opportunity.
What About Mallorca?
Edelweiss has also confirmed that it will provide additional capacity between Zurich and Palma de Mallorca during October, including the use of larger aircraft.
However, its announcement does not specifically identify the widebody type or individual flights involved.
This could therefore be another route worth watching through the airline’s booking system as October approaches.
The Best Opportunity for A340 Enthusiasts?
Of the announced routes, the Gran Canaria services offer the largest number of chances to fly aboard an Edelweiss A340.
The aircraft is scheduled on Fridays and Sundays from October until around the middle of November, giving enthusiasts a useful selection of dates.
Tenerife on Mondays and Rhodes on Saturdays during October provide alternatives.
And there’s another bonus for UK enthusiasts: getting to Zurich Airport is relatively straightforward thanks to numerous flights from the UK, making it possible to build one of these A340 sectors into a short trip.
Zurich itself is also one of Europe’s best airports for plane spotting, with excellent viewing terraces and a huge variety of SWISS and Edelweiss traffic.
Don’t Leave It Too Long to Fly the Edelweiss A340
These short-haul flights are especially noteworthy because time is running out for the Edelweiss A340.
The airline’s rapidly growing A350 fleet is replacing the older four-engined aircraft. Edelweiss currently has four A350-900s and expects another two by the end of 2026, while only three A340-300s remain.
For enthusiasts who have never flown on an A340 – or who simply want another flight before the type becomes even harder to find – October and early November 2026 provide some excellent opportunities.
The confirmed widebody opportunities are therefore:
- Zurich – Gran Canaria: A340-300, Fridays and Sundays, October to mid-November
- Zurich – Tenerife: A340-300, Mondays in October
- Zurich – Rhodes: A340-300, Saturdays in October
- Zurich – Heraklion: A350-900, Saturdays during the autumn period
As always with aircraft substitutions, equipment can change for operational reasons, so check the aircraft type shown when booking and again closer to departure.
But if the A340-300 is still missing from your logbook, these may be some of the easiest opportunities left to experience one without heading long-haul.
Have you flown on an Edelweiss A340 or A350? Or are you tempted to book one of these short-haul widebody flights while you still can?
Last Chance to Fly Rare Jets!
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