Lucerne/Zurich Airport, 8 September 2026

SWISS and the Swiss Museum of Transport are joining forces to preserve a piece of Swiss aviation history: the last Airbus A340-300 from the SWISS fleet is to be permanently housed at the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne once it has reached the end of its operational life. However, there are still extensive technical, financial and regulatory issues to be resolved before this can happen. 

For many years, the Airbus A340-300 was a defining feature of SWISS’s long-haul fleet, connecting Switzerland with destinations around the world. With its four engines, distinctive silhouette and role as a reliable mainstay on long-haul routes, it became a familiar symbol of the SWISS fleet for many travellers and staff. As the last four-engine aircraft, the A340 also marks the end of an era at SWISS. Now that it has reached the end of its service life, one of these iconic Swiss long-haul aircraft is to be preserved: SWISS and the Swiss Museum of Transport intend to permanently incorporate the last Airbus A340-300 from the SWISS fleet into the aviation exhibition in Lucerne. 

Martin Ettlinger, Director of the Swiss Museum of Transport: “Having an Airbus A340 at the Swiss Museum of Transport is a unique opportunity to preserve a significant piece of Swiss aviation history and bring it to life. This majestic aircraft will greatly enhance our aviation and space exhibition. The A340-300 fits perfectly into the designated outdoor area in front of the Aerospace Hall. However, bringing an aircraft of this size to Lucerne is a task that is as daunting as it is complex. We are doing everything we can to make this extraordinary project a reality, together with SWISS and other partners.” 

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, symbolised Switzerland’s international connectivity and played a key role in shaping the history of SWISS and Swiss long-haul aviation. 

Jens Fehlinger, CEO of SWISS: “For many years, the Airbus A340 has connected people from Switzerland with the world and has thus itself become a part of Swiss aviation history. If one of these aircraft is to live on at the Swiss Museum of Transport in future, it will bring things full circle for us 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 this extraordinary journey a reality.” 

A new highlight for the Swiss Museum of Transport 

The A340 is not simply to be parked in the Swiss Museum of Transport’s courtyard as an exhibit. The aim is to showcase the aircraft’s interior in a variety of ways and present it as a new highlight of the aviation and space exhibition. The Convair 990 ‘Coronado’, a former Swissair four-engine long-haul aircraft, is already part of the exhibition. The Airbus A340-300 will add another significant piece of aviation history to the collection. As the last four-engine aircraft type in the SWISS fleet, the A340 represents an important era in Swiss long-haul aviation. 

A logistical feat requiring perfect teamwork 

Transporting a long-haul aircraft weighing around 125 tonnes to the Swiss Museum of Transport is far more than just an ordinary transport operation. It is a logistical and technical feat. The A340 must make its way from Zurich Airport to Lucerne, be precisely positioned on the Museum of Transport’s grounds and permanently integrated into the existing exhibition. To meet the extremely high technical and logistical requirements, detailed feasibility studies, specialised transport operations, structural modifications and close coordination with the authorities are necessary. 

The project is also financially demanding. SWISS is donating the aircraft to the Swiss Museum of Transport. The costs of the transfer, structural work and the interactive exhibition design of the interior are to be borne by the Swiss Museum of Transport. Current cost estimates suggest a figure in the high single-digit millions. Funding must be secured by the end of 2026 and is to come primarily from third-party sources such as 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 on this matter. 

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

Further information: www.verkehrshaus.ch/a340

Contact 

Swiss Museum of Transport
Beatrice Rüttimann Head of Corporate
Communications
Tel. 041 375 74 72 / 079 622 00 37
beatrice.ruettimann@verkehrshaus.ch 

Swiss International Air Lines Ltd.
Media Relations
Tel. +41 44 564 44 14
media@swiss.com
SWISS Newsroom 

Contact (Fundraising: Foundations, Patrons, Private Sector)
Swiss
Museum of Transport Martin Ettlinger
Director and Head of the Fundraising Committee
Tel. 041 375 74 20
martin.ettlinger@verkehrshaus.ch