Platinum Airways A340-300E (G-PLMB)

Platinum Airways is a British luxury airline based at London Gatwick. This airline operates just 4 A340-300s, with another 4 A330-900neos on order as replacements. All Platinum aircraft are configured with only premium economy and business class seats.

This airline was founded by a wealthy London businessman who had been fascinated by aircraft since he was a kid, and had attempted to start an airline twice in the past, however, both attempts failed. He dreamed about people being able to afford premium cabins for cheap, economy level prices. This led him to start working on Platinum Airways in 2007, and eventually was able to purchase 4 ex. SFTA A340-300s in 2011. On June 3, 2012, the airline operated its first flight from Gatwick to Dubai, with an A340 registered as G-PLMA. Many expressed skepticism that this airline would survive for even a few months, due to its all premium business model, which did cause delays before the launch, which was actually supposed to occur 2 years earlier in 2010. However, the airline carried on, and increased its network to 5 destinations out of Gatwick by 2015, these cities consisted of Dubai, Doha, New York, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong. In 2018, the airline secured orders for 4 A330-900neos as a replacement for the A340s, which were by now 20 to 25 years old. The new A330neos were initially supposed to be delivered in 2020, however, the COVID pandemic pushed the deliveries back to September 2022. Despite temporarily ceasing operations as a result of the Global pandemic shutdown in April 2020, the airline recently has made a comeback and plans to expand its fleet and network in the years to come.

The aircraft shown here is G-PLMB, one of 4 A340s, the others being G-PLMA, G-PLMC, and G-PLMD. This aircarft wears the standard 2012 livery, although it has been reapinted with a A350/A330neo style raccon mask in 2019. It is currently still in service with Platinum.