IATA M88ICAO MD88

McDonnell Douglas MD-88

McDonnell Douglas

Refined twin-jet workhorse of the MD-80 family.

First flight

1987

Category

Narrow-body jet

Seating

130–149 passengers

Range

4,635 km

Engines

Two rear-mounted Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219 turbofans

Status

Retired

The McDonnell Douglas MD-88 is a narrow-body, twin-engine commercial jetliner developed as an advanced variant of the MD-80 series. It introduced a glass cockpit with electronic flight instrumentation systems (EFIS), improving situational awareness and reducing pilot workload compared to earlier MD-80 variants. Powered by two rear-mounted Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219 turbofan engines, the MD-88 seats up to 149 passengers in a single-class configuration. It entered service in 1988 and became a staple of short- to medium-haul domestic operations in the United States. Delta Air Lines was by far the largest operator, building a massive fleet of MD-88s that formed the backbone of its domestic network for decades. The type has largely been retired from commercial service as airlines transitioned to more fuel-efficient next-generation aircraft.

Notable operators

Delta Air Lines operated the largest fleet of MD-88s; Allegiant Air and several other carriers also flew the type.

Notable facts

›The MD-88 introduced a full glass cockpit (EFIS) not found on earlier MD-80 variants.
›Delta Air Lines retired its last MD-88s in June 2020, ending the type's major commercial service.
›It shares the same fuselage cross-section as the Douglas DC-9, with a narrow 2-3 seat layout.
›The JT8D-219 engines offered improved fuel efficiency and reduced noise compared to earlier JT8D variants.
›A total of 259 MD-88s were built before production ended in 1999.

This profile is AI-generated 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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