SWISS plane from the air to the Lucerne museum. Credit: SWISS SWISS and the Swiss Transport Museum in Lucerne are exploring an extraordinary move to preserve a chapter in Swiss aviation history. According to the plan, the last Airbus A340-300 in the airline's fleet will be transferred to the Transport Museum in Lucerne at the end of its operational life and become a permanent exhibit.
However, the move is not yet final and depends on resolving a series of technical, logistical, regulatory and economic challenges.
The A340-300 aircraft has been a key part of SWISS's long-haul fleet for years, connecting Switzerland to destinations around the world. The four-engine aircraft was one of the airline's most iconic aircraft and is now the last remaining four-engine aircraft type in the SWISS fleet.
SWISS plans to donate its last A340-300 aircraft to the Swiss Transport Museum, aiming to preserve an aircraft that was a significant part of the company's long-haul development and Switzerland's aviation history.
The Transport Museum in Lucerne is one of the largest museums of its kind in Europe, displaying thousands of exhibits and attracting thousands of visitors each year.
The plan is not to place the plane as a static exhibit in the museum's courtyard. According to the plan, a visitor complex will be developed inside the plane to offer a broader experience and integrate with the museum's aviation and space exhibition.
The museum already has a historic four-engine Convair 990 Coronado airliner on display, which once served Swissair. The A340 is expected to join it and showcase another era in Swiss aviation history.
Transportation Museum in Lucerne Photo: Nimrod LotemThe main challenge is moving the aircraft from Zurich Airport to the Lucerne Museum. This is a particularly complex logistical operation, as the A340 weighs approximately 125 tons.
The project will require detailed feasibility studies, special transportation solutions, structural adjustments, and coordination with authorities. The aircraft will need to be located precisely on the museum grounds and permanently integrated into the existing complex.
The project is estimated to cost several million Swiss francs, with SWISS donating the aircraft itself and the museum covering the costs of transportation, structural work and the creation of the visitor experience. Funding is expected to come mainly from foundations, donors and companies, and the plan is to complete the fundraising by the end of 2026.
SWISS hopes to bring the aircraft to Lucerne in early 2028, but the final decision on whether to carry out the move will only be made after financing, approvals, and transportation solutions are secured