Yep, been doing this commute ICT-ATL for almost 6 months now, given me a new appreciation for the MD-88 knowing our time left is limited.

I felt the same way a few years ago racking up D95 flights on DTW-BNA....something you used to take for granted in years prior but really enjoyed the last year or two when you knew their time was limited.

TW870 wrote:

Because of the MD consolidation in ATL, some stations really haven't felt any impact yet. DAY, for example, has been all -88 since DL started trying to simplify the number of fleets that visit particular stations, and has not seen any reduction in -88 flying even as the fleet has declined from 116 to 70-some birds. The huge difference is in Minneapolis. There are some months that used to see 6xM90 as the only service on MSP-SFO, for example, and large amounts of -88 and -90 service to BOS, LGA, DCA, and other busy east coast markets. Right now the only t-tails at MSP are 717s.

Yeah I am surprised MSP lacks the T-tails now other than the 717's (and the CRJ's if you want to count them). I've been seeing a lot more A319/A320/A321's out of MSP instead.

Super80Fan wrote:

TW870 wrote:

Because of the MD consolidation in ATL, some stations really haven't felt any impact yet. DAY, for example, has been all -88 since DL started trying to simplify the number of fleets that visit particular stations, and has not seen any reduction in -88 flying even as the fleet has declined from 116 to 70-some birds. The huge difference is in Minneapolis. There are some months that used to see 6xM90 as the only service on MSP-SFO, for example, and large amounts of -88 and -90 service to BOS, LGA, DCA, and other busy east coast markets. Right now the only t-tails at MSP are 717s.

Yeah I am surprised MSP lacks the T-tails now other than the 717's (and the CRJ's if you want to count them). I've been seeing a lot more A319/A320/A321's out of MSP instead.

A319 and A320, it's normal because those all come from Northwest and MSP was Northwest's main hub, with DTW. So it is not surprising to still see a lot of A319s and A320s still hanging around in MSP even ten years after the merger. And of course it makes sense to base some A321s there to make crew scheduling and spare parts exchange easier.

American 767 wrote:

Super80Fan wrote:

TW870 wrote:

Because of the MD consolidation in ATL, some stations really haven't felt any impact yet. DAY, for example, has been all -88 since DL started trying to simplify the number of fleets that visit particular stations, and has not seen any reduction in -88 flying even as the fleet has declined from 116 to 70-some birds. The huge difference is in Minneapolis. There are some months that used to see 6xM90 as the only service on MSP-SFO, for example, and large amounts of -88 and -90 service to BOS, LGA, DCA, and other busy east coast markets. Right now the only t-tails at MSP are 717s.

Yeah I am surprised MSP lacks the T-tails now other than the 717's (and the CRJ's if you want to count them). I've been seeing a lot more A319/A320/A321's out of MSP instead.

A319 and A320, it's normal because those all come from Northwest and MSP was Northwest's main hub, with DTW. So it is not surprising to still see a lot of A319s and A320s still hanging around in MSP even ten years after the merger. And of course it makes sense to base some A321s there to make crew scheduling and spare parts exchange easier.

It's not really that simple. After the merger a lot of Airbus flying turned up in ATL and for a few years MSP was quite MD90 heavy. They've reversed that to make the MDs ATL exclusive.

RyanairGuru wrote:

American 767 wrote:

Super80Fan wrote:

Yeah I am surprised MSP lacks the T-tails now other than the 717's (and the CRJ's if you want to count them). I've been seeing a lot more A319/A320/A321's out of MSP instead.

A319 and A320, it's normal because those all come from Northwest and MSP was Northwest's main hub, with DTW. So it is not surprising to still see a lot of A319s and A320s still hanging around in MSP even ten years after the merger. And of course it makes sense to base some A321s there to make crew scheduling and spare parts exchange easier.

It's not really that simple. After the merger a lot of Airbus flying turned up in ATL and for a few years MSP was quite MD90 heavy. They've reversed that to make the MDs ATL exclusive.

Yep that is correct. When they did the deals to bring the -90 fleet to 65, they opened an MD-88/-90 pilot base in MSP. The reason for this is that the-90 could touch both coasts out of MSP, which was not true for SLC-East Coast or ATL-West Coast. A good amount of 320 flying went to SLC and ATL. It was quite dramatic for a while, with the T-tails running the whole schedule on SFO, BOS, LGA, and other core cities out of MSP that used to see a lot of 320 and 757 flying. This peaked during the era when the MD-90 fleet was at its largest, and was also augmented by significant -88 flying in MSP. Once they consolidated the -88s and -90s in ATL over the past year, they have backfilled with a mix of A320s, 717s, and newly delivered 739s and 321s. So this is really a new era of Airbus flying that does not directly connect to the old NWA A320-heavy operation at MSP.

TW870 wrote:

RyanairGuru wrote:

American 767 wrote:

A319 and A320, it's normal because those all come from Northwest and MSP was Northwest's main hub, with DTW. So it is not surprising to still see a lot of A319s and A320s still hanging around in MSP even ten years after the merger. And of course it makes sense to base some A321s there to make crew scheduling and spare parts exchange easier.

It's not really that simple. After the merger a lot of Airbus flying turned up in ATL and for a few years MSP was quite MD90 heavy. They've reversed that to make the MDs ATL exclusive.

Yep that is correct. When they did the deals to bring the -90 fleet to 65, they opened an MD-88/-90 pilot base in MSP. The reason for this is that the-90 could touch both coasts out of MSP, which was not true for SLC-East Coast or ATL-West Coast. A good amount of 320 flying went to SLC and ATL. It was quite dramatic for a while, with the T-tails running the whole schedule on SFO, BOS, LGA, and other core cities out of MSP that used to see a lot of 320 and 757 flying. This peaked during the era when the MD-90 fleet was at its largest, and was also augmented by significant -88 flying in MSP. Once they consolidated the -88s and -90s in ATL over the past year, they have backfilled with a mix of A320s, 717s, and newly delivered 739s and 321s. So this is really a new era of Airbus flying that does not directly connect to the old NWA A320-heavy operation at MSP.

That makes sense and explains why I've seen lots of MDs at MSP over the past few years as opposed to 320s and 757s in the 2000s. Thanks for the insight.

TTailedTiger wrote:

They still fly ATL-OMA. Maybe that is the longest route.

Between DL to ATL and AA to DFW, OMA may be the station with the highest %age of MadDog flying, at least until Labor Day weelend.

Lootess wrote:

dcajet wrote:

According to this old thread, there were some one-off LAX-ATL flights with the MD88s back in the 90s.

viewtopic.php?t=582705

There were a few ATL-LAX MD88 flights about a decade ago. Didn't last too long, I can't remember if was just equipment availability related.

I started In LAX in 94 and i don't remember that, only remember LAX-DFW on MD-88/90 unless it was a thru flight to ATL.

Shields wrote:

I think DL may have flown the M88 from ATL-STX. Call me crazy, but I think they used that bird on Saturdays about 10 years ago or so.

They did. If I recall correctly in the winter months, there was also Wednesday service and I think a year or two they had Friday as well. At the time, I think we discussed here on a.net that it was the longest M88 segment Delta flew at the time. ATL-LAX would beat it. Pretty sure it ended up as a A319/320 at the end of my stint on STX which was also something different than the AA 738s and ATRs.

Northwest1988 wrote:

Hello all,
So the MD-88s supposedly have until sometime next year until retirement. They have been steadily parked over the last year and I’m curious of a few things...

1. What are the longest remaining routes the MD-88 currently flies for DL?

2. How many should be left in the fleet by the end of this year?

3. What cities currently see the MD-88 as the only aircraft type operated by DL to a specific airport?

4. Are any of them finding new homes after retirement from DL?

Thanks!

So back to question #2 of the original post...What will the fleet number be in ATL at the end of the year? Is 45 a a true expectation?

Up to 3 dailly 88s for years from Providence to Atlanta. Sometimes a MD-90. The last flight, I always say will be from PVD to ATL to the scrapyard!

Ionosphere wrote:

I wonder what the longest historical DL MD-88 flight was?

My 2 longest MD-88 routes have been LGA-DFW and DFW-ONT.

highflier92660 wrote:

I can definitely confirm that MD-88s and 90s are saturated on the ATL-CLE route as some sort of Cleveland joke. I'm bringing some earplugs with me tomorrow. As I said on another thread, I love-love Delta but their MD-88s are long in the tooth and as loud as an open cockpit Stearman.

I remember when I thought the MD-88 was considered quiet as compared to the 727-200.

OMA, ICT, DSM are some of the fewer stations that still see multiple DL MD-88 & AA MD-80s per day. There are likely a few others but they are rapidily dwindling down.


To the above the MD-88 fleet will continue to draw down to ~40 active at the end of 2019 and all gone by end of 2020.

aumaverick wrote:

Northwest1988 wrote:

Hello all,
So the MD-88s supposedly have until sometime next year until retirement. They have been steadily parked over the last year and I’m curious of a few things...

1. What are the longest remaining routes the MD-88 currently flies for DL?

2. How many should be left in the fleet by the end of this year?

3. What cities currently see the MD-88 as the only aircraft type operated by DL to a specific airport?

4. Are any of them finding new homes after retirement from DL?

Thanks!

So back to question #2 of the original post...What will the fleet number be in ATL at the end of the year? Is 45 a a true expectation?

Yes, as of the current park plan, the end of year number should be 45. That could change, It has numerous times since the retirement was made official.