Saab SF340A/B

The Saab 340 is a twin-turboprop regional airliner developed jointly by Saab of Sweden and Fairchild of the United States, though Fairchild withdrew from the program in 1985 and Saab continued production alone. It entered service in 1984 and became a staple of regional aviation worldwide, particularly in North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. The SF340A was the original production variant, while the SF340B introduced more powerful General Electric CT7-9B engines, an increased maximum takeoff weight, and improved hot-and-high performance. The 340B+ added further refinements including enhanced noise and vibration reduction. Production ended in 1999 after approximately 459 aircraft were built. The Saab 340 remains widely operated by regional carriers as of the mid-2020s despite its age, valued for its reliability, fuel efficiency on short sectors, and relatively low operating costs. It is commonly used to feed passengers into larger hub airports.