The SAAB 2000 is a twin-engine transport aircraft with a max payload of 5900 kg or up to 2 crew and 58 passengers. Development studies on a 47 to 58-seat commuter airliner based on the SAAB 340 design started in 1985. Development of the SAAB 2000, a high-speed regional turboprop based on the SAAB 340 design, started in 1988 when Crossair ordered 25 SAAB 2000 airliners, with an option on a further 25. Development of the SAAB 2000 was done in cooperation with the launching customer Crossair from Switzerland. Production of the first prototype began in 1990. Several European aerospace firms participated in the Saab 2000 manufacturing program including CASA, Westland and Valmet of Finland. The Saab 2000's first flight took place on March 26 1992, and certification in Europe was granted in March 1994. Certification by the FAA followed in April 1994. The SAAB 2000 entered airliner services in 1994 with Crossair. The Saab 2000 is a fast turboprop airliner with a cruise speed of over 665km/h. Lack of sales and profitability forced Saab to cease the 2000 production with just 63 aircraft built. The last SAAB 2000 was delivered to Crossair in April 1999.

On 21 March 2009, Golden Air SAAB 2000 SE-LTX came in at Groningen Airport Eelde in the Netherlands with guests for the launching of a cargo ship on one of the shipyards in Groningen. Golden Air operates a number of SAAB SF340A, SAAB 340B, SAAB 2000 and ATR-72-212A aircraft out of Trollhattan in Sweden. Golden Air is part of the Thun Group, which is active in the field of shipping, real estate management and the aviation industry. Next to scheduled flights to destinations in Finland and Sweden Golden Air operates charter and air taxi flights. The 1995-built SAAB 2000 SE-LTX c/n 2000-024 flew first with testregistration SE-024 on 17 September 1995. The aircraft was delivered as HB-IZM to Crossair on 27 October 1995. After the defunct of Swissair and the founding of the new Swiss airliner the HB-IZM was transferred to Swiss International Airlines. On 16 February 2005, the aircraft was transferred to Golden Air in Sweden. The SAAB was registered SE-LTX with Erik Thun AB, Lidköping, as owner and Golden Air Flyg AB, Lidköping, as operator on 3 March 2005.

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