VH-EKD SAAB 340A

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 the delivery flight to Australia - August 10, 1989

It arrived at Wagga Wagga on completion of the delivery flight from Sweden - 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

The aircraft was badly damaged when it entered an area of heavy rain and hail at 4,000 feet - November 30, 1995

It was operating the Wagga Wagga - Albury service

At an altitude of 7,000 feet a line of severe thunderstorms were encountered

A descent to 4,000 feet was made where the hail was found to be most intense

The outer layer of the starboard windscreen was cracked, the fuselage was badly dented and the anti-collision

beacon was smashed

It was repaired and returned to service - ?

Whilst landing at Port Lincoln (South Australia) the aircraft struck a bird during the landing flare - December 02, 1998

It impacted the starboard side of the radome causing it to crack

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 (Tullamarine) - Brisbane on delivery to the associate airline Pel-Air - September 27, 2010

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

Ferried Townsville - Wagga Wagga as PYF9843 for storage - November 25, 2013

Returned to service with Pel-Air - March ?, 2015

Returned to service with REX Regional Express - October ?, 2015

It was withdrawn from service - ?

Sold to Chathams Ltd, Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand - July ?, 2023

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - July 06, 2023

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-CIT - July 07, 2023

Current with Air Chathams