McDonnell Douglas MD-80

The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 is a series of short and medium-range passenger aircraft developed by the McDonnell Douglas company between 1979 and 2000. The series includes the MD-81, MD-82, MD-83, MD-87 and MD-88 models.

They were developed based on the Douglas DC-9 specifically to meet the needs of short- and medium-range route operators who required a larger-capacity aircraft. The basic design was modified to offer more seats, improved operating economy, reduced fuel consumption, and much quieter engines. Other aircraft are also part of the DC-9 family, such as the McDonnell Douglas MD-90, and the MD-95, better known as the Boeing 717 after the merger with Boeing in 1997.

Douglas Aircraft developed the DC-9 in the 1960s as a short-haul complement to its DC-8 airliner. The DC-9 was a completely new design for its time, featuring two turbojet engines located in the rear of the fuselage and a T-tail. The DC-9 was designed as a narrow-body aircraft with five seats per row (3-2), capable of carrying 80 to 135 passengers, depending on the aircraft version.

In the late 1970s, a new version of the DC-9 began development with some improvements, such as a lengthened fuselage that allowed it to carry up to 179 passengers, more efficient and quieter engines and a more modern cockpit, among others. It was initially called DC-9-80 and DC-9 Super 80.^[1] However, the name was later changed to MD-80. Several versions of the MD-80 were manufactured in two different fuselage lengths.

Currently, some 31 airlines fly this aircraft; however, the largest operators have been American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, LASER Airlines, Aserca Airlines, PAWA Dominicana, SBA Airlines, and Andes Líneas Aéreas.

In the 1990s, a modernized version of the MD-80 was developed, called the MD-90. However, it was not as well-received as its predecessor. Later, the final project was created, the MD-95, or, as it is currently known, the Boeing 717.^[2]

Major airlines that operated the MD-80 series:

• Alaska Airlines retired its MD-80 series aircraft after making its last commercial flight on August 25, 2008.^[3]
• Alitalia operated 90 MD-82 from 1983 to 2012.
• American Airlines retired its MD-80 series aircraft after making its last commercial flight on September 4, 2019.^[4]
• Delta Air Lines retired its MD-88 and MD-90 aircraft on June 2, 2020.^[5]
• Northwest Airlines operated the MD-82 from 1986-1999 following the acquisition of Republic Airlines.
• Continental Airlines operated the MD-81, MD-82, and MD-83. The fleet was retired in 2006.
• Midwest Airlines operated the MD-81, MD-82 and MD-88.^[6] The fleet was retired in 2008.
• Allegiant Air operated the MD-82, MD-83, MD-87, and MD-88. The fleet was retired in 2018.^[7]
• European Air Charter operated the MD-82 as the last European operator. The fleet was retired in October 2023.^[8]

The MD-80 is also known by the following nicknames:

• Bichito or skinny buggy, attributed to its ability to glide across wet runways.

• Mad Dog, from the initials of McDonnell Douglas, means brave or crazy dog.

• Super Snake, given the nickname by American Airlines pilots for its length.

• Toscano, due to its length, given by the crew of the Argentine airline Austral Líneas Aéreas.

• Super 80, for being the most sophisticated version of the DC-9.

• Vochito, for its easy maintenance and great design.

American Airlines announced that it will begin the retirement of its McDonnell Douglas MD-80 fleet. There are 27 MD-83s and one MD-82, averaging 20.6 years old. The last MD-80 was scheduled to fly on September 4, 2019.

The retirement was carried out gradually, before the aircraft were transferred on ferry flights to Roswell, New Mexico. The final flight was very special: dubbed "Flight 80," it departed from the airline's main base in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, bound for Chicago O'Hare International Airport on September 4, 2019.