IATA M88ICAO MD88

McDonnell Douglas MD-88

McDonnell Douglas

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Refined twin-jet workhorse of the DC-9 family.

First flight

1987

Category

Narrow-body jet

Seating

149 (typical)

Range

4,635 km

Engines

Two Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219 rear-mounted turbofans

Status

Retired

The McDonnell Douglas MD-88 is a narrow-body, twin-engine jet airliner developed as an advanced derivative of the DC-9 and MD-80 series. It entered service in 1987 and incorporated a glass cockpit with an electronic flight instrument system (EFIS), an updated flight management system, and improved Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219 engines compared to earlier MD-80 variants. The aircraft seats approximately 149 passengers in a typical two-class configuration and was designed primarily for short- to medium-haul domestic routes. Its slim fuselage and rear-mounted engines gave it a distinctive, tail-heavy silhouette common to all DC-9 family members. Delta Air Lines was by far the largest operator of the MD-88, making it a staple of their domestic fleet for decades. The type was gradually phased out of major airline service, with Delta retiring its last MD-88s in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Notable operators

Delta Air Lines was the dominant operator, with smaller numbers flown by Alaskan carriers and various charter airlines.

Notable facts

›The MD-88 introduced a full glass cockpit (EFIS) as standard compared to earlier MD-80 variants.
›Delta Air Lines operated over 120 MD-88s at the type's peak and was the launch customer.
›Delta retired its final MD-88s in June 2020, effectively ending the type's major airline service.
›The MD-88 shares its fuselage cross-section with the original DC-9, first flown in 1965.
›It features a two-crew cockpit, eliminating the need for a flight engineer required on earlier DC-9 variants.

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This profile is provided for general information only. Specifications may be inaccurate or vary by variant/operator — verify with the manufacturer before relying on them.

Encyclopaedia

The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 is a series of five-abreast single-aisle airliners developed by McDonnell Douglas. It was produced by the developer company until August 1997 and then by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The MD-80 was the second generation of the DC-9 family, originally designated as the DC-9-80 and later stylized as the DC-9 Super 80 . With a stretched, enlarged wing and powered by higher bypass Pratt & Whitney JT8D-200 engines, the aircraft program was launched in October 1977. The MD-80 made its first flight on October 18, 1979, and was certified on August 25, 1980. The first airliner was delivered to launch customer Swissair on September 13, 1980, which introduced it into service on October 10, 1980.

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