Where Do Swiss Fly Their A340s This Year?

For aviation enthusiasts, seeing a Swiss International Air Lines Airbus A340-300 still in regular service in 2026 is a bit like spotting a dinosaur on a modern airport ramp — rare, nostalgic and inherently photogenic. With Swiss steadily modernising its long-haul fleet by introducing Airbus A350-900s, the venerable four-engine A340 is finally entering the twilight of its operational life.

But this year — probably the last full year of A340 operations before their scheduled retirement by mid-2027 — the A340 remains in use on a small but meaningful set of long-haul routes from Zurich (ZRH). For spotters and long-haul loggers, that means there are still opportunities to catch the quadjet in action before it bows out for good.

Why the A340 Is Being Phased Out

Swiss is upgrading its long-haul fleet with Airbus A350-900s — modern, fuel-efficient twinjets that offer better economics and passenger comfort than the ageing A340-300. A350 deliveries have been underway since 2025, and the airline plans to continue replacing the older quadjets as more A350s arrive.

However, with four A340-300s still active early in 2026, the type still has a few months left on selected intercontinental flights — a final chance for enthusiasts to log these classic aircraft.

The current Swiss A340-300 fleet is:

• HB-JMA (538), A340-313X
• HB-JMB (545), A340-313X
• HB-JMH (585), A340-313X
• HB-JMI (598), A340-313X

Current A340 Routings — Winter 2025/26

Data from schedules filed through late 2025 shows the A340 continuing to operate on a limited number of long-haul routes from Zurich:

Zurich (ZRH) – Shanghai Pudong (PVG)

The A340 keeps its long-standing link between Switzerland and one of China’s busiest gateways, offering regular scheduled flights between Zurich and Shanghai.

Zurich (ZRH) – Johannesburg (JNB)

Across the African continent, the A340 remains one of the aircraft of choice on the Swiss-Johannesburg service — a rugged, long-haul link that highlights the quadjet’s historical strength on lengthy sectors.

Zurich (ZRH) – Seoul (ICN)

On selected rotations, Swiss has also deployed the A340 on flights between Zurich and Seoul Incheon, tapping into demand for travel between Europe and East Asia.

These routes represent the core of the A340’s remaining scheduled network, and while frequency can vary week to week, they remain the prime opportunities for enthusiasts to see the type in regular passenger service.

Occasional Long-Haul Appearances in North America

Although not a primary scheduled aircraft on North American routes, the A340 may still appear on transatlantic flights on occasion — typically when other widebodies are unavailable due to maintenance or schedule adjustments. Historical data shows Swiss using the quadjet on North American services like Zurich – Boston (BOS), Newark (EWR) and other transatlantic sectors when fleets shift.

These aren’t guaranteed every day, but they’re worth checking if you’re chasing rare long-haul sightings.

Summer 2026 Outlook

Swiss A340 about to land at Zurich

Swiss has now published its summer 2026 schedule, featuring a broad network of intercontinental services from Zurich and Geneva — including expanded flights to the United States and Canada. Destinations include New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Toronto and more.

While specific aircraft assignments for summer have not yet been widely published, it’s likely that Swiss will continue to use the A340 on its most established and high-demand long-haul routes — primarily Zurich – Shanghai and Zurich – Johannesburg — at least through the early part of the summer season. Enthusiasts should watch published equipment tables as they roll out closer to March 2026 for more precise confirmations.

As more A350-900s enter service, however, the quadjets are increasingly rare, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see A340 appearances become spotter-target specials rather than staple schedule events as the year progresses.

Incoming Airbus A350s

The first two Swiss A350s

Just last week Swiss took delivery of its second Airbus A350 aircraft, HB-IFB, which joins -IFA in its special livery.

These aircraft are directly replacing the A340-300 fleet on the airline’s long-haul network (as well as some European schedules). They offer better fuel economy and passenger comfort, moving Swiss and its fleet forwards.

Don’t Miss Your Last Chances

For aviation fans, 2026 is likely to be the final regular year of Swiss A340 operations. Spotters hoping to add the Swiss-branded quadjet to their logs should plan ahead:

• Target Zurich Airport (ZRH) on days when the A340 roster is scheduled
• Watch published flight numbers and equipment codes
• Consider long-haul departures to Shanghai and Johannesburg as priority targets

Once the A340 fleet is retired — expected by mid-2027 — Swiss will fully embrace its newer, more efficient widebodies. Until then, the historic four-engine jet will quietly continue to ply the skies — one of the last holdouts of a generation now fading into memory.