As 2026 draws to a close, the aviation world is witnessing the bittersweet farewell of several iconic aircraft. This year feels particularly poignant as airlines bid adieu to beloved planes and cherished liveries that have graced the skies for decades.
Lufthansa A340-600
On October 18, Lufthansa will retire one of its most iconic four-engine aircraft, the Airbus A340-600, marking the end of over 23 years of service. This journey was only interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought the aviation industry to a standstill.
The final flight, LH419, is scheduled to depart from Washington, D.C., at 17:55 local time, landing in Frankfurt the next morning at 07:55 local time. This last arrival will conclude Lufthansa’s long history with the A340-600, leaving the smaller A340-300 as the last four-engine aircraft in its fleet. However, the German airline has announced plans to retire the A340-300 by 2027. The A340-600s will be replaced by modern twin-engine aircraft, including the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The fleet will feature both the A350-900 and A350-1000 models, with the latter set to enter service in December on the Munich–Tokyo route. Lufthansa will still operate four-engine aircraft, including the A340-300, A380-800, 747-400, and 747-8 Intercontinental. Currently, there are 11 A340-300s in service, all based in Frankfurt.
SWISS A340-300
SWISS International Air Lines has also retired a significant part of its long-haul history. On October 14, the Airbus A340-300 HB-JMB departed Zurich for the last time, heading to Enschede Airport Twente in the Netherlands. This marked the end of over two decades of service with the Lufthansa Group carrier. The 23-year-old aircraft operated its final passenger service as LX53 from Boston Logan International Airport on October 8, landing in Zurich the following day.
The departure was memorable, with the crew bidding farewell with three “wing waves” before the aircraft set off for Twente. After just 65 minutes in the air, it touched down, concluding a career that included countless transatlantic flights and long-haul routes to destinations like Dubai and Mumbai. HB-JMB is the first SWISS A340 to retire this year, with three more remaining in the fleet, all set to be replaced by Airbus A350-900 twinjets. SWISS plans to retire all four A340-300s by the end of 2027, marking the end of an era for the national carrier.
SWISS A350 Wanderlust Livery
In a related note, HB-IFA, adorned with a stunning special livery, will be losing its unique design this year in favor of standard SWISS colors. This special livery, created by Swiss artist Frédéric Siegel, transformed the aircraft into a flying art gallery celebrating Swiss culture and landscapes.
The application technique involved around 360 precision-cut film elements covering 380 square meters, all applied by hand. The motifs featured landmarks and symbols from various Swiss cities, including Basel, Bern, Geneva, and Lucerne, making it a true masterpiece in the skies.
Icelandair 757-200 and 767
While Lufthansa and SWISS are ending the Airbus A340 chapter, Icelandair is preparing to retire another legendary aircraft family: the Boeing 757 and 767. Looking ahead, the final scheduled flights for Icelandair’s Boeing 757-200 and 767-300ER are approaching, with dates set for January 2027.
The Boeing 757-200 is scheduled for its last flight on January 4, 2027, from Reykjavík Keflavík to London Heathrow, while the Boeing 767-300ER will operate its final flight on January 5, 2027, from Boston to Reykjavík. Other destinations still on the schedule include Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Paris Charles de Gaulle. Icelandair already earlier retired all 757-300s and a few of the 757-200s (including both special liveries) and 767s. Some retired 757-300 and 767 aircraft have already found new life with Uzbek carrier Fly Khiva, and the aircraft wearing a Hekla Aurora special livery was turned into AviationTags.
Austrian 767
Austrian Airlines is also preparing to say goodbye to its remaining Boeing 767-300ERs, having recently sold the last three aircraft. These planes will head to Arizona for parts recovery, marking the end of a chapter that began nearly four decades ago with Lauda Air.
The final two passenger aircraft, OE-LAE and OE-LAY, are expected to depart Vienna on November 30, with a return arrival on December 1. To commemorate this farewell, Austrian Airlines is hosting a special Fan Flight on December 1, 2026, offering passengers a unique experience aboard the Boeing 767. This flight will be a celebration of the memories shared over the years, with a specially designed service and surprises for the guests.
The Boeing 767 will be replaced by the Boeing 787-9, with Austrian expecting to have seven Dreamliners in service by summer 2027. This transition promises lower fuel burn and a more modern cabin, but for aviation enthusiasts in Vienna, it means the last few weeks to see a 767 in the iconic red, white, and red livery.
For passengers, these retirements may simply mean quieter cabins and more efficient aircraft. For aviation enthusiasts, however, the departure of the A340, 757, and 767 marks the gradual disappearance of some of the most distinctive aircraft ever to enter commercial service.
