Delta Air Lines to stop flying its last Douglas DC-9 aircraft

If you have been often traveling on Delta Air Lines’ Douglas DC-9 aircraft on Atlanta-Minneapolis/St. Paul route, then this might be your last flight. The airline is planning to stop operating this aircraft altogether from January 6, 2014. The airline will stop the sale of plane tickets now as it will be permanently grounding its last remaining aircraft providing commercial flights on this route.

Delta Air Lines was the first customer to launch the 65-seater Douglas DC-9 aircraft in 1965 on its short-haul domestic routes. The airline had till date operated a fleet of 305 Douglas DC-9 aircrafts ever since 1965. This will be the last such aircraft that Delta Air Lines has decided to retire permanently. 

Nat Pieper, Delta Air Lines’ Vice President – Fleet Strategy, said that the Douglas DC-9 aircraft had been a workhorse and proved to be a backbone for its domestic fleet. He said that the last remaining aircraft in the fleet is being retired and the newer, modern and more efficient aircraft would now enter the fleet.

Delta Air Lines has now started taking the delivery of its 100 Boeing 737-900ER and 88 Boeing 717-200 Aircraft that started entering into service in October and November 2013. The newer aircrafts now feature a First Class cabin. The airline’s Economy Comfort class on the new aircrafts has slim-line seats installed, while Economy Class cabin has been equipped with in-seat power outlet and Wi-Fi connectivity.