IATA S20ICAO SB20

Saab 2000

Saab

TravelerPulse profile

High-speed Swedish regional turboprop with jet-like performance.

First flight

1992

Category

Regional turboprop

Seating

50–58 passengers

Range

2,868 km

Engines

Two Allison AE 2100A turboprop engines driving six-bladed Dowty propellers

Status

In service

The Saab 2000 is a large, high-speed regional turboprop aircraft developed by Saab of Sweden as a successor and complement to the smaller Saab 340. Designed to compete with regional jets, it features a pressurized cabin and advanced avionics, offering cruise speeds close to those of turbofan-powered aircraft. The aircraft entered service in 1994 and was produced until 1999, with a total of 63 aircraft built. Despite its impressive performance characteristics, it faced stiff competition from regional jets such as the Bombardier CRJ series, which ultimately limited its commercial success. Today, the Saab 2000 remains in limited service with a small number of operators, including some military and special-mission variants. Its high cruise speed and relatively long range for a turboprop make it suitable for thinner regional routes where economics favor propeller-driven aircraft.

Notable operators

Notable operators have included Crossair, Golden Air, and various smaller regional carriers; a small number remain in service today with operators such as Loganair.

Notable facts

›The Saab 2000 can cruise at approximately 682 km/h (370 knots), making it one of the fastest turboprops ever built.
›Only 63 aircraft were produced between 1994 and 1999.
›Active noise cancellation technology was used in the cabin to reduce propeller noise.
›The aircraft shares design heritage with the smaller Saab 340 but is significantly stretched and upgraded.
›Six-bladed Dowty propellers were chosen specifically to reduce cabin noise and vibration.