Japan’s Hokkaido Air System (HAS) operated its last commercial Saab 340B flight on Boxing Day. With the turboprop leaving the HAS fleet, the curtain closes on commercial Saab 340 flights in Japan.
After 23 years, the Saab 340 finishes flying for Hokkaido Air System
HAS has been operating a handful of Saab 340s since the late 1990s. Their last one, JA02HC, had its swansong on December 26 when it operated JL2740 from Hakodate to Okadama. It was an inglorious end to a fine little plane. A planned return service to Kushiro later that day was canceled.
JA02HC went to HAS in June 1998. The Okadama-based regional airline operates scheduled services in Hokkaidō and Aomori Prefecture. HAS is a private company controlled by Japan Airlines. The HAS fleet flies under Japan Airlines’ colors.
Since 1998, JA02HC has flown a total of 39,177 hours and 42 minutes for HAS. The total flight cycle was 62,543 times. The aircraft’s retirement from commercial flying attracted plenty of attention, with one person saying online, “thank you for 23 and a half years of flying in the skies of Hokkaido and Tohoku!”
A possible future flying maritime surveillance for Japan’s Coastguard
On Wednesday, JA02HC left its home of the last 23 years on a ferry flight to Kagoshima. The flight operated as JL4250 down to Hakodate, where it refueled before continuing onto Kagoshima.
Before the plane left, pilots and ground staff scrawled their signatures and farewell messages on the aircraft’s fuselage.
The aircraft’s fate isn’t confirmed, but aviation news site Smart Aviation Asia-Pacific notes Japan’s Coast Guard, which has a base in Kagoshima, continues to operate Saab 340s in maritime surveillance roles.
HAS is transitioning to ATR 42 aircraft. The ATR has proven to be successful in connecting communities across the Japanese archipelago, thanks to its effectiveness at taking off and landing on short runways.
Over the past two years, HAS has taken three ATR 42-600s, taking the total number of ATR 42-600s flying in Japan to 14.
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There are still Saab 340s flying passengers
There are still over 20 passenger airlines flying around 140 of the Saab turboprops worldwide. Production of the plane, which can seat between 30 and 36 passengers, ceased in 1999. Like Fokkers, the Saab 340 is a robust and reliable plane that keeps flying. It can handle short runways and is well suited to regional carriers that need to scratch out a profit from skinny routes.
Far and away the biggest Saab A340 passenger flight operator is Regional Express (Rex). They operate around half the world’s remaining Saab 340 passenger aircraft. Also operating a significant number of the type are IBC Airways with 11 Saab 340s still flying, Loganair with 13 Saab 340s, Pacific Coastal Airlines with nine Saab 340s, and TAG Airlines with eight of the type.
Operating smaller numbers of the aircraft are Western Air Bahamas, Silver Airways, Seaborne Airways, Rise Air, Pascan Aviation, OCL Bahamas, NyxAir, Lulutai Airlines, EZAir, Cayman Airways Express, Air Rarotonga, Air Leap, Air Chathams, Air Century, and Aerolineas Sosa.
While many are sad to see the end of Saab 340 operated passenger flights in Japan, the arrival of the ATRs at Hokkaido Air System will enable the regional airline to modernize its fleet and enjoy the economic and operational advantages that come with flying more contemporary aircraft.