Is American Airlines the only carrier with MD-80's in service? If not, who else has them?

Question

I am very curious to know with the recent events in the news.

Thanks.

^_^

Answer 1

While American Airlines has the largest fleet of them, other still fly them.

Continental, Delta, Northwest, Korean Air, Hawaiian, Air Italia, to name a few.

Answer 2

American, Delta and Alaska are the Major US Airlines still flying the MD-80. I know from first hand experience that Continental no longer has them.

Answer 3

MD-90 major customers include Delta Air Lines, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Japan Air System (JAS). Of special note is that Delta Air Lines had initially placed a large order for the MD-90 to replace some aging Boeing 727s. After the Boeing-McDonnell Douglas merger, Delta canceled their remaining MD-90 orders in favor of the Boeing 737-800.

In December 2007, a total of 1,051 MD-80 and MD-90 aircraft (all variants) were in airline service, including American Airlines (301), Delta Air Lines (133), Alitalia (74), Scandinavian Airlines System (42), Japan Airlines (39), Spanair (36) and Allegiant Air (35). In addition, 78 other operators fly smaller numbers of the types.

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American Airlines uses the twin engine MD80 on it's domestic routes.  That's why grounding them hurt so many people.  It took over the role that used to be filled by the tri-jet 727.  Certain wires withing the wheel wells were supposed to be retied because they were not done right the first time.  

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The MD-80 series has been used by airlines around the world. Major customers include Aeroméxico, Allegiant Air, B&H Airlines, American Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Avianca, Belle Air, Delta Air Lines, Swissair, Alitalia, Spanair, Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS), Finnair, Iberia, Japan Air System (JAS), China Eastern Airlines, China Northern Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Korean Air, Austral Líneas Aéreas, and Viking Airlines. Many of the airlines have, however, started to retire the type in the 2000s.

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Many including the pilots union are suspicious of the grounding and flight cancellations that took place last week and say it was not really necessary. Although the airline lost money doing it,  gas prices were eating their lunch so to speak as it was.  American is said to be looking into a merger with Continental.

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Answer 4

Delta has like 117 MD-80s in total.

Answer 5

Alaska has maybe a dozen left, and all of those are scheduled to be retired before October 2008.

Answer 6

no... American airlines is not the only airline with MD-80's in their fleet

i do not remember some of them but one of them is Alaska Airlines.

Answer 7

At least American, Delta, and Alaska in this country.  Just read a short article in a trade journal this morning saying that AA is considering speeding up the rate at which the MD-80 family will be phased out due to high fuel prices.  The B737-800 uses considerably less fuel and appears to be the replacement of choice.  Also I understand that the MD-80's days are numbered at Alaska as well.  Not sure about Delta's plans, but I wouldn't be surprised to hear that they will be phased out there, too.  Continental stopped flying MD-80 series in 2005.

The MD-80 family will live on for some time as the B717 - Air Tran in particular has a large fleet of them, and they are fairly new aircraft with the last delivered only two years ago.

Answer 8

No, lot's of airlines have them.  Continental, Delta, I think Northwest has DC-9's, not sure about 80's.  I do believe that American has the largest fleet in the US of MD-80's.