The Boeing 717, a derivative of the McDonnell Douglas MD-80, is becoming increasingly rare in the United States. Delta Air Lines and Hawaiian Airlines are currently the only two major commercial airlines operating this aircraft type.
According to ch-aviation data, Hawaiian Airlines still has 19 Boeing 717s in its fleet, with one inactive. This number has remained unchanged since 2021. The airline uses these aircraft exclusively for flights between five Hawaiian airports: Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Maui Kahului Airport (OGG), Lihue Airport (LIH), Kona International Airport (KOA), and Hilo International Airport (ITO). Data from Cirium’s Diio Mi airline planning tool shows that in February, Hawaiian Airlines scheduled 1,044 weekly flights with the Boeing 717.
Delta Air Lines has a fleet of 88 Boeing 717s and has scheduled 2,494 weekly flights with them during February. These flights operate from major hubs like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), and Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP). The most popular route for Delta’s Boeing 717 is between Atlanta and Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT).
The future of the Boeing 717 in these airlines’ fleets remains uncertain. Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Airlines, discussed the longevity of the aircraft on The Air Show podcast released on December 10, 2024. He noted that while the plane plays a unique role, there would eventually be considerations about costs and customer needs when deciding on a successor.
Delta Air Lines ended 2023 with plans to add eight ex-Volotea Boeing 717s to its fleet but also had stored 25 out of its total of 88 aircraft. During a Q4 earnings call on January 10, CFO Daniel Janki stated that over 20 aircraft were retired in 2024 and more retirements are expected in 2025.
Glen Hauenstein, President of Delta Air Lines, mentioned during an investor day in November that while domestic fleet retirements were paused temporarily, they plan to start retiring their Boeing 757s soon. Meanwhile, smaller narrowbody aircraft like the Airbus A220-300 are considered growth vehicles for the airline.
