McDonnell Douglas Dc-9-80

Twin Jet

The McDonnell Douglas MD-90 represents the final evolution of the legendary DC-9 family, introduced in 1995 as a stretched, modernized variant with significantly quieter and more fuel-efficient International Aero Engines V2500 turbofans. Designed to seat 153-172 passengers in typical two-class configurations, the MD-90 was McDonnell Douglas's answer to the Boeing 737-800 and Airbus A320, offering comparable range (around 2,400 nautical miles) and operating economics but arriving late to a market already dominated by its competitors. The type featured an advanced flight deck with six-screen EFIS displays and improved aerodynamics, yet only 116 examples were built before Boeing acquired McDonnell Douglas in 1997 and effectively ended production. The MD-90's operational ceiling of 37,000 feet and cruise speed of Mach 0.76 made it a capable short-to-medium-haul workhorse, particularly popular with Delta Air Lines, which operated the largest fleet for over two decades. Despite its technical merits and being among the quietest narrowbody jets of its era, the MD-90 never achieved commercial success and has largely disappeared from passenger service, with most airframes retired by the early 2020s. A handful remain in corporate or government service, making active sightings increasingly rare. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators over routes.