The McDonnell Douglas MD-80s Still Flying More Than 45 Years After 1st Flight
Once a mainstay of major carriers, the MD-80 persists in cargo and charter roles where entry cost beats fuel economy.
By Ethan QualleZimbabwe
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Loud Pratt & WhitneyJT8D engines that powered rocket-like takeoffs have slowly been disappearing from the skies. Significant reduction in the global fleet occurred when Delta Air Lines and American Airlines accelerated retirements of the type in the early 2020s. Manufactured by McDonnell Douglas, the program was sold to Boeing in 1997 as a result of a merger, as originally reported by The Spokesman Review.
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About this article
- Length
- 66 words · 1 min read
- Published
- October 9, 2026
- Byline
- Ethan Qualle
- Source
- Simple Flying