Hi everyone, the title is pretty self-explanatory. The reason I'm asking is because I really want to fly on an American MD-80 before they retire them next year. I was told by someone on here that places like TUS would probably be some of the last to be pulled. However, looking at the flight schedules it appears that they will remove the MD-80 off all but one of the TUS-DFW flights in September, and with my luck if I book that one remaining flight they'll pull it off that one too. So does anyone know which routes will most likely see them until they are fully retired? If this has been mentioned in another thread then feel free to delete this one.

Hopefully not ABQ-DFW. I'm ready for some more air time in the 737-8. All we get here are MD-80s and tired, unpainted CRJ-900s, plus twice daily MQ CRJ-700s to ORD.

There are tones of cities in the AA schedule with MD-80 service (to a point I wonder if they really are retiring the plane by next year). These cities include IND, SMF, MCI, PIT, etc.

Retirement date has not changed but you do see them more than originally planned due to the Republic bankruptcy. MD80s are being used to back fill routes republic can't cover. I'd say it's possible to see them extended longer but they are being pulled from service at a very rapid rate. The last route is almost sure to be ORD-MIA.

At this point, I hope it isn't DFW-IAD. I'm averaging 1 flight cancellation per round-trip due to mechanical reasons the last 2-3 times I've flown this route. As much as I love the MD-80, it's time for the 737 to take over these flights.

I am hopeful for one more ride myself but the routes I am on don't see many MD's any more.

Boeing778X wrote:

Hopefully not ABQ-DFW. I'm ready for some more air time in the 737-8. All we get here are MD-80s and tired, unpainted CRJ-900s, plus twice daily MQ CRJ-700s to ORD.

Enjoy the Mad Dog while you can. When they're gone all you'll able to enjoy is that 73 and you'll then be wishing for something else after a while...

JDAirCEO wrote:

Retirement date has not changed but you do see them more than originally planned due to the Republic bankruptcy. MD80s are being used to back fill routes republic can't cover. I'd say it's possible to see them extended longer but they are being pulled from service at a very rapid rate. The last route is almost sure to be ORD-MIA.

I thought the MD80's didn't serve MIA.

I think DFW-ORD is a safe bet for the last MD80 route.

AA still has MD 80s on CMH-DFW

Boeing778X wrote:

Hopefully not ABQ-DFW. I'm ready for some more air time in the 737-8. All we get here are MD-80s and tired, unpainted CRJ-900s, plus twice daily MQ CRJ-700s to ORD.

There was one 738 on the route the summer of last year, and it looks like there will several 738s that are planned to fly the route this fall.

I am however surprised that there hasn't been any A319s on the route (at least none that I know of). That can bridge some of the capacity between the CR9 and M80/738.

My guess is the last MD-80 flight will be from DFW to TUL. Short 40 minute hop right to their largest maintenance base.

I would say either DFW-SAT or DFW-AUS. Those two routes were 100% Super 80 until just a few years ago. They are both large outstations close to DFW with near hourly flights.

JDAirCEO wrote:

Retirement date has not changed but you do see them more than originally planned due to the Republic bankruptcy. MD80s are being used to back fill routes republic can't cover. I'd say it's possible to see them extended longer but they are being pulled from service at a very rapid rate. The last route is almost sure to be ORD-MIA.

Where did you come up with that scenario?

MD80'S have been pulled from MIA back around 04ish..I betting the last MD 80 will be an inbound to DFW ...Also 80's are taking on Rep flying at a 1 flight to 3 flight ratio due to lack of pilots or BK this comes from town halls from AA..

lapper wrote:

Boeing778X wrote:

Hopefully not ABQ-DFW. I'm ready for some more air time in the 737-8. All we get here are MD-80s and tired, unpainted CRJ-900s, plus twice daily MQ CRJ-700s to ORD.

Enjoy the Mad Dog while you can. When they're gone all you'll able to enjoy is that 73 and you'll then be wishing for something else after a while...

Seeing as the 737 is one of my favorite planes, I'm expecting that to not be an issue

I agree with a few above. I fly several times a week, and 50-60% of the time equipment is an MD-82/-83, the flight is delayed for mechanical or technical reasons. I don't think you know this, but I like leaving on time LOL

I love the MD-80, but I'm ready for an upgrade.

doulasc wrote:

AA still has MD 80s on CMH-DFW

You beat me to it... I can't wait for those to end. I like the MD-80 (my first ever commercial flight was on one), but they're a little long in the tooth.

There are 3 daily MD-80 flights from DFW-RIC-DFW. They are still on the schedule through December. After that, KAYAK shows no more AA flights on that route at all. I assume AA hasn't worked out their schedule past the end of the year. The AA website doesn't give equipment unless you are actually booking a flight.

Bob Bradley

MD80s are still on the RIC-DFW route. Still showung them through atleast January 2017 but have no idea when theyll leave. Will this be a 737 route or A32x route?

My gut tells me ORD-EWR

I just hope SLC sees MD80s for a few months longer while I save up for a flight...

either way I hope the next gen of mid size jets will take into count of a 2-3 layout nothing beats it

AMALH747430 wrote:

I would say either DFW-SAT or DFW-AUS. Those two routes were 100% Super 80 until just a few years ago. They are both large outstations close to DFW with near hourly flights.

I would've guessed so, too, but have you taken a look at the latest schedule update for DFW-AUS for the fall? It goes to ALL 321. In fact, the only route that will see the Super 80 out of AUS is ORD.

From a random Monday in November:

DFW is 11x 321 (Legacy US metal...blah);
ORD is 4x S80;
LAX is 3x 319, 1x 73H;
JFK is 1x 73H;
PHX is 3x CR9, 1x 319;
CLT is 2x CR9, 2x 319;
PHL is 1x E90

Of note is MIA disappearing on 6 November. I don't see it coming back in the schedule, which is interesting.

ripcordd wrote:

either way I hope the next gen of mid size jets will take into count of a 2-3 layout nothing beats it

Well, the CSeries is 2-3 across in coach. Perhaps if/when they do a CS500, your vision will come true.

The last few will probably be-

DFW-TUL
DFW-MCI
DFW-ORD
ORD-LGA
ORD-MCI

Longhornmaniac wrote:

AMALH747430 wrote:

I would say either DFW-SAT or DFW-AUS. Those two routes were 100% Super 80 until just a few years ago. They are both large outstations close to DFW with near hourly flights.

I would've guessed so, too, but have you taken a look at the latest schedule update for DFW-AUS for the fall? It goes to ALL 321. In fact, the only route that will see the Super 80 out of AUS is ORD.

From a random Monday in November:

DFW is 11x 321 (Legacy US metal...blah);
ORD is 4x S80;
LAX is 3x 319, 1x 73H;
JFK is 1x 73H;
PHX is 3x CR9, 1x 319;
CLT is 2x CR9, 2x 319;
PHL is 1x E90

Of note is MIA disappearing on 6 November. I don't see it coming back in the schedule, which is interesting.

WOW! I just looked at DFW-SAT for 11/14/16. It's all 321 too! I'm shocked! I've flown that route for years. To connect to DCA for a middle school trip, all through college from 2001-2004, to connect to and from Europe for my law school study abroad, up to DFW to take the bar exam, and countless other trips. It really is the end of an era. For most of my life AA meant la flight on a Super 80. They served AA well!

Don't forget DFW-OKC

Thanks for the replies everyone! As for AUS, that one really shocked me. I would of thought DFW-AUS would remain S80 strong until the end. But apparently that's not the case.

Try DFW-PSP. Last time I looked 2 of 3 flights are md80 for winter

AA.com still has two S80 OMA-DFW as far out as next March. FWIW.

AAs schedule is good until 10.31.16. Data after the time change is a place holder. Just look at DFW to any city in October compared to late November (for Domestic). AUS to ORD is all 738 in October and DFW to ORD is down to just 3 MD80s, but this probably be the last route flown.

If only for nostalgia reasons the ideal route would be a one-off LGB-DFW-STL-DFW then farewell.

globalcabotage wrote:

AAs schedule is good until 10.31.16. Data after the time change is a place holder. Just look at DFW to any city in October compared to late November (for Domestic). AUS to ORD is all 738 in October and DFW to ORD is down to just 3 MD80s, but this probably be the last route flown.

I looked at the flight schedules for TUS-DFW in late September just a few days ago and I'm pretty sure it had said that all flights were MD80s. But then I looked again last night and it said only one flight was an MD80. So maybe they are already making schedule changes for what routes it's being sent on?

AMALH747430 wrote:

Longhornmaniac wrote:

AMALH747430 wrote:

I would say either DFW-SAT or DFW-AUS. Those two routes were 100% Super 80 until just a few years ago. They are both large outstations close to DFW with near hourly flights.

I would've guessed so, too, but have you taken a look at the latest schedule update for DFW-AUS for the fall? It goes to ALL 321. In fact, the only route that will see the Super 80 out of AUS is ORD.

From a random Monday in November:

DFW is 11x 321 (Legacy US metal...blah);
ORD is 4x S80;
LAX is 3x 319, 1x 73H;
JFK is 1x 73H;
PHX is 3x CR9, 1x 319;
CLT is 2x CR9, 2x 319;
PHL is 1x E90

Of note is MIA disappearing on 6 November. I don't see it coming back in the schedule, which is interesting.

WOW! I just looked at DFW-SAT for 11/14/16. It's all 321 too! I'm shocked! I've flown that route for years. To connect to DCA for a middle school trip, all through college from 2001-2004, to connect to and from Europe for my law school study abroad, up to DFW to take the bar exam, and countless other trips. It really is the end of an era. For most of my life AA meant la flight on a Super 80. They served AA well!

Don't trust the DFW-AUS/DFW-SAT schedules that far out. The AA schedule is only 'locked' through ~ the first week of November right not. DFW-AUS showed all 321s for September/October until these schedules were updated with the final schedule. Then it reverted thte norm (mix of 738, MD80, 32B).

I live in the Chicago area, so can only really advise on ORD. But here are a few routes that are probably a safe bet going into 2017:

ORD-STL/RDU/DEN/AUS/DTW/MSP/MCI to name a few.

Additionally, the MD80 continues to operate on multiple 3+ hour flights, including: ORD-TUS/SMF/LAS/SLC

TripleA" However, looking at the flight schedules it appears that they will remove the MD-80 off all but one of the TUS-DFW flights in September, and with my luck if I book that one remaining flight they'll pull it off that one too..[/quote]

Interestingly, ORD-TUS remains MD80 only for the foreseeable future.

[quote="AMALH747430 wrote:

I would say either DFW-SAT or DFW-AUS. Those two routes were 100% Super 80 until just a few years ago. They are both large outstations close to DFW with near hourly flights.

I would've guessed so, too, but have you taken a look at the latest schedule update for DFW-AUS for the fall? It goes to ALL 321. In fact, the only route that will see the Super 80 out of AUS is ORD.

From a random Monday in November:

DFW is 11x 321 (Legacy US metal...blah);
ORD is 4x S80;
[/quote]

Perhaps these are examples that add value to the notion that ORD will be the final MD80 pilot base.

globalcabotage wrote:

AAs schedule is good until 10.31.16. Data after the time change is a place holder. Just look at DFW to any city in October compared to late November (for Domestic). AUS to ORD is all 738 in October and DFW to ORD is down to just 3 MD80s, but this probably be the last route flown.

Thanks!

DeltaMD95 wrote:

I live in the Chicago area, so can only really advise on ORD. But here are a few routes that are probably a safe bet going into 2017:

ORD-STL/RDU/DEN/AUS/DTW/MSP/MCI to name a few.

Additionally, the MD80 continues to operate on multiple 3+ hour flights, including: ORD-TUS/SMF/LAS/SLC

[quote="TripleA" However, looking at the flight schedules it appears that they will remove the MD-80 off all but one of the TUS-DFW flights in September, and with my luck if I book that one remaining flight they'll pull it off that one too..

Interestingly, ORD-TUS remains MD80 only for the foreseeable future.

Thanks for the info!

gregn21 wrote:

The last few will probably be-

DFW-TUL
DFW-MCI
DFW-ORD
ORD-LGA
ORD-MCI

I would put down ORD-STL as well due to the former TWA hub. There are still MD-80's on that route with an occasional CRJ7 or E175 in between. If it does go through TUL it would be some sort of ceremony at least. DFW would do any last work before ferrying the aircraft out to the desert.

According to some, it will likely be DFW-BNA-DFW since DFW and BNA were the launch cities of the Super 80.

CcrlR wrote:

gregn21 wrote:

The last few will probably be-

DFW-TUL
DFW-MCI
DFW-ORD
ORD-LGA
ORD-MCI

I would put down ORD-STL as well due to the former TWA hub. There are still MD-80's on that route with an occasional CRJ7 or E175 in between. If it does go through TUL it would be some sort of ceremony at least. DFW would do any last work before ferrying the aircraft out to the desert.

STL also has a mx shop that specializes in the MD80, so I'd wager STL will see at least several MD80 routes until the very end. Probably from ORD and DFW.

Well I fly on the MD-80 a lot on TUL-DFW and AUS-DFW, personally I will be glad to see the back of them! Especially during the summer when your sat on one and its delayed as per usual, and the temperature outside is 105 and the air conditioning on these things never works on the ground and doesn't cool the cabin down much in the air! Yeah they are fun to fly on occasionally and will be sad to see them go, but from a travel perspective.... please hurry up and get rid of them! I personally prefer flying the Airbus with AA but that's because they have a nicer first class, I find with the 737's the cabin is different every time I fly! You never know what your gonna get, old cabin, new cabin, half refurbed cabin, cabin you've never seen before.... REALLY OLD cabin lol it is SO inconsistent with the 737!

Interestingly, by Halloween there will only be two MD-80's a day between ORD-DFW. And on a side note ... I was surprised to see one flight on a 757!

Does the impending draw down from the flagship route say more about DFW or ORD in the near-term for MD ops?

Sorry to bump a week old thread, however, it appears that DFW-ORF is 100% MD-80 throughout AA's schedules. I wonder if this will be the last MD-80 route. I'm a bit surprised that DFW-ABQ is getting some 738s while DFW-ORF remains 100% MD-80 even though the latter is longer.

Well if you wanna get technical, the last S80 route will be DFW to ROW

While I will miss the MD80s (I remember when they were new replacing the 727s) I am giddy that the AUS-DFW route will be all A321.

I also wonder if AA will fly the A319 on DFW-ABQ. I'm a bit surprised that DFW-ABQ is getting 738s along with CR9s, but no A319s. The A319 can bridge the capacity gap between the CR9 and MD-80/738.

Sooner787 wrote:

Well if you wanna get technical, the last S80 route will be DFW to ROW

Darn! Wish I could book a flight on that route lol

1337Delta764 wrote:

I also wonder if AA will fly the A319 on DFW-ABQ. I'm a bit surprised that DFW-ABQ is getting 738s along with CR9s, but no A319s. The A319 can bridge the capacity gap between the CR9 and MD-80/738.

I've heard that the new seats in economy in new the AA A319s and A321s are horrible. So I'm not exactly thrilled about flying on one in the future.

I am thinking it will be something out of DFW to lets say IAH or ORD or something. I don't think its going to be anything crazy long to be honest.