VH-EKD. SAAB 340A. c/n 155.

 

This aircraft was built by Saab Aircraft AB, Linkoping, Sweden - 1989

First flown with test registration 'SE-F55' - June 16, 1989

The Swedish test registration was cancelled - August 09, 1989

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EKD - August 09, 1989

Registered to Kendell Airlines (Australia) Pty Ltd, Wagga Wagga, Australia

Accepted by Kendell Airlines at Linkoping - August 10, 1989

This was the first Saab 340 to be acquired by Kendell Airlines

Departed Linkoping, Sweden on delivery flight to Australia - August 10, 1989

It arrived at Wagga Wagga on completion of the delivery flight - August 15, 1989

The aircraft was named 'City of Wagga Wagga'

Operated its first revenue service Wagga Wagga - ? - August 22, 1989

Kendell Airlines was purchased by TNT / News Ltd, the parent company of Ansett Airlines - June 1990

Ansett suspended all operations due to bankruptcy - September 13, 2001

Operated its last revenue service Mt Gambia - Adelaide (West Beach) as AN5481 - September 14, 2001

Ferried Adelaide (West Beach) - Melbourne (Tullamarine) - Wagga Wagga for storage as AN5481 - September 14, 2001

Returned to service under administration Wagga Wagga - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) as AN6681 - October 11, 2001

Kendell Airlines was sold to Australiawide Airlines operating as Regional Express Airlines (REX) - August 01, 2002

Operated its first revenue service with REX - August 05, 2002

Registered to Australiawide Airlines Ltd - September 19, 2002

Registered to Regional Express Holdings Pty Ltd - March 09, 2007

Operated its last passenger service Griffith - Melbourne (Tullamarine) as ZL3233 - September 27, 2010

This was the last Saab 340A service operated by Rex Airlines

Ferried Melbourne - Brisbane on delivery to the associate airline Pel-Air - September 27, 2010

Operated its first Pel-Air revenue service Brisbane - Gladstone - Roma - Brisbane - September 28, 2010

Current with the Pel-Air

 

 

VH-EKD. REX Regional Express - in the standard livery at Wagga Wagga Airport, July 27, 2009.

(N. K. Daw Copyright Image 1045-002.)

VH-EKD. REX Regional Express - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, June 01, 2010.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1045-007.)

VH-EKD. Pel-Air - in the basic 'REX' livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, June 16, 2019.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 1045-105.)

VH-EKD. Pel-Air - in the basic 'REX' livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, August 07, 2022.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 1045-186.)