Where Did Delta Air Lines’ Boeing 717s Come From?

Delta Air Lines is one of the most popular airlines in the world. The Atlanta, Georgia-based carrier is the largest airline in the world in terms of total passengers and number of departures. Alongside its regional subsidiaries and contractors operating under Delta Connection, the airline has over 5,000 daily flights. These flights fly to over 300 destinations in 50 countries. Delta is also the second-oldest operating commercial airline in the United States, trailing only United Airlines.

Because the carrier is so prominent, Delta Air Lines also has one of the largest fleets of active aircraft in the world. Delta flies a mix of both Boeing and Airbus aircraft and splits its narrowbody operations between the Boeing 737 series and the Airbus A320 series. It also splits its long-haul flights between its Airbus A350-900 fleet and its Boeing widebody aircraft, which includes the Boeing 767 series. Shorter and smaller routes are also split between Airbus A220 aircraft and Boeing 717s. Let’s take a closer look at just how Delta Air Lines became a major carrier flying the Boeing 717, as well as some of the features that made this aircraft such a good choice for the airline.

Where Did Delta Air Lines Get Its Fleet Of Boeing 717s From?

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Overall, Delta Air Lines received its fleet of Boeing 717s through a unique arrangement with Southwest Airlines. The low-cost carrier originally inherited the planes after merging with AirTran Airways, which was previously the largest operator of the aircraft type. However, after Southwest Airlines completed its acquisition of AirTran in 2011, the airline decidedly had no interest in adding the aircraft to its fleet. Southwest instead focused on maintaining its single-fleet strategy of only flying Boeing 737s.

Because of this, in 2012, Southwest and Delta reached an agreement for Delta Air Lines to lease the entirety of AirTran’s previously owned fleet. This significant arrangement gave Delta access to a modern, efficient small narrowbody aircraft that was well-suited for the airline’s short and medium-haul domestic routes.

These aircraft each went through a full refurbishment and reconfiguration to match the rest of Delta’s active fleet. Deliveries of the newly refurbished Boeing 717s took place from 2013 to 2015. Delta also utilized these unique aircraft to begin replacing its aging McDonnell Douglas DC-9s and other aging regional jets. Since then, Delta Air Lines has become the world’s largest operator of the Boeing 717.

How Many Boeing 717s Does Delta Air Lines Operate?

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Currently, Delta Air Lines operates a total of 80 Boeing 717s. According to ch-aviation, these aircraft have an average age of 24 years and a capacity of 9,300 seats as a fleet. Additionally, the airline also has four Boeing 717s currently in storage, meaning they are not currently in service. Historically, the airline flew eleven other 717s, although these were retired beginning in March 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The youngest Boeing 717 in the Delta fleet is 19.5 years old, registered as N939AT. Like much of the fleet, this aircraft was delivered to AirTran Airways in the mid-2000s. Much of Delta’s Boeing 717 fleet has the same configuration, seating a total of 110 passengers in a three-class configuration. This configuration utilizes 73 economy seats, 25 economy plus seats, and 12 business class seats. According to ch-aviation, the oldest Boeing 717s in the Delta fleet are:

Delta Air Lines typically operates its fleet of Boeing 717s on short-haul domestic routes. Nearly two-thirds of the airline’s fleet is based at its headquarters at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Georgia. However, two other main hubs, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) in Michigan and Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) in Minnesota, also base a substantial number of 717s. Delta flies these aircraft on routes between a major hub and smaller cities or regional centers.

When Did Development Of The 717 Begin?

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The Boeing 717 began its life not as a Boeing aircraft but actually as the McDonnell Douglas MD-95. In the early 1990s, McDonnell Douglas recognized the need for a next-generation aircraft to replace its aging DC-9. Airlines operating the popular DC-9 realized that the older aircraft were becoming less efficient and more expensive to maintain. Because of this, McDonnell Douglas saw an opportunity to offer a next-generation aircraft based on the DC-9 while incorporating modern technology and new engines.

McDonnell Douglas formally announced the new program in October 1995. However, work on this modernized aircraft can be traced back to the late 1980s. The new aircraft would have a similar design to the MD-80 and DC-9, yet feature a new wing, avionics system, and engines. ValuJet Airlines, a low-cost carrier that would later merge with AirTran Airways, became the launch customer after placing an order for 50 MD-95s.

However, McDonnell Douglas merged with Boeing in 1997. Under new leadership, Boeing initially debated whether to continue the program, since it overlapped with the smaller versions of the 737 Next Generation family. However, the company decided to move forward with the aircraft’s production, rebranding the aircraft as the Boeing 717.

When Did The Boeing 717 Enter Commercial Service?

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The first Boeing 717 rolled out of the production facility in Long Beach, California, in June 1998 before conducting its maiden flight the following September. After a brief flight testing program, the Boeing 717 received its type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in September 1999.

The Boeing 717 officially entered commercial service in September 1999 with AirTran Airways. AirTran inherited the order after acquiring ValuJet in a 1997 merger. The airline operated the aircraft on high-frequency short-haul routes around the United States, flying the 717 as a replacement for older DC-9s and Boeing 737-200s. Some of the aircraft’s most popular operators include:

Overall, the Boeing 717 was produced from 1999 to 2006, with just over 150 total aircraft produced. The aircraft found a unique niche in the commercial aviation industry, which would later be filled by smaller regional jets or newer narrowbody aircraft like the Boeing 737 or Airbus A320. Because of this, Boeing struggled to attract new customers, which eventually contributed to the decision to cease production of the aircraft.

What Are The Main Design Features That Made The Boeing 717 So Popular?

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The Boeing 717 was designed as a combination of the proven DC-9 and MD-80 aircraft, while also incorporating advanced technology. The aircraft was designed with the same basic layout that made its predecessors so successful, seating around 100 passengers. This made the aircraft an attractive replacement for older DC-9s and regional jets. The design of the aircraft also emphasized reliability and low operating costs, which made it attractive to airlines that needed an efficient workhorse for high-utilization routes.

Like its predecessors, the Boeing 717 kept the rear-mounted engine and T-tail configuration. However, the 717 also incorporated a new unobstructed wing, which was optimized for better fuel efficiency and lower drag. Inside the cockpit, McDonnell Douglas incorporated a glass cockpit with six large multifunction displays, modern flight management systems, and digital avionics, which was similar to larger airliners at the time.

The aircraft was powered by two BMW Rolls-Royce BR715 turbofan engines. These engines were specifically designed for the 717 program, each offering just under 19,000 pounds of thrust. These powerful engines helped the aircraft achieve the following performance specifications:

How Many Boeing 717s Are Still Flying Today?

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Currently, there are fewer than 100 Boeing 717s still in service today. According to ch-aviation, only 99 717s are still flying with only two airlines. Delta Air Lines remains the largest operator of the aircraft type, flying a total of 80 in its active fleet. As Boeing produced only 156 aircraft, that means that 57 have been retired.

The other current operator of the Boeing 717 is another US-based airline, Hawaiian Airlines. According to ch-aviation, Hawaiian Airlines flies a total of 19 aircraft. These aircraft serve as the backbone of the airline’s interisland fleet. The Boeing 717 is durable and has strong performance in hot and humid conditions, which makes the aircraft well-suited for flying around Hawaii.

Although its production run was brief, the Boeing 717 has enjoyed a long and successful operational life. The aircraft has become well known for its reliability, rugged design, and efficient performance, especially as an aircraft designed in the 1990s. The Boeing 717 remains a testament to the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 lineage, and it remains one of the last great examples of McDonnell Douglas engineering brought to life under the Boeing name.