Saudi Arabian Royal Flight operates world’s oldest active Airbus A340

Ch-aviation data shows that older A340s are still prevalent among Middle Eastern governments and royal families. Operators include the Saudi Arabian Royal Flight, Alpha Star Aviation, Qatar Amiri Flight, and the Egyptian Air Force. For example, the Saudi Arabian Royal Flight operates two A340-200s, while Qatar Amiri Flight and the Egyptian Air Force each operate one. Mahan Air, an Iranian airline, also operates a 30.7-year-old A340.

Lufthansa, which operates ten A340s aged between 25.25 and 29.43 years, has announced retirement dates for these aircraft between November 2026 and January 2027. In contrast, other operators have not disclosed retirement plans, suggesting continued use of these older jets.

In 2007, the Saudi Arabian Government acquired an A340-8000, a unique ultra-long-range variant originally built for Brunei's royal family. The aircraft, registered as HZ-HMS, was designed for a range of 8,000 nautical miles and an upgraded maximum takeoff weight of 275 tonnes. Although delivered in November 1998, the jet never entered service with Brunei’s royals and was later purchased by Saudi Arabia, eventually joining the Saudi Arabian Royal Flight.

The Saudi Royal Flight once considered expanding its fleet with an Airbus A380, which would have been the world’s largest private jet. Plans included luxury suites, a car garage, a Turkish bath, a concert hall, and conference rooms. However, the order was canceled in 2015. An Airbus spokesperson explained, “The aircraft was originally a flight-test A380. A few years after the 2007 order, Al Waleed resold the aircraft. Time passed and the aircraft was sitting in Toulouse, without any passenger equipment, without being delivered.”

The second-oldest active A340 is HZ-SKY1, operated by Alpha Star Aviation. Delivered initially to Lufthansa in 1993, the aircraft was soon transferred to the Brunei Government and later served the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Royal Jordanian, Ajwa Aviation, and Sky Prime Aviation before returning to Alpha Star.

Among commercial airlines, only two A340s over 30 years old are in operation: EP-MJC (Mahan Air) and YV3554 (Conviasa). Mahan Air’s jet is the older of the two at 30.7 years. Conviasa’s EP-MJC is also notable; in January 2025, the US Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on Ramón Celestino Velásquez Araguayán, Venezuela's Minister of Transportation and CEO of Conviasa, citing connections between the airline and the Nicolás Maduro regime.