Mot slutten for Americans store flåte av MD-80

American to retire MD-80 in 2017; faces interesting PaxEx decisions

American Airlines, once the largest operator of the venerable McDonnell-Douglas MD-80 series of aircraft, has quietly announced the retirement date of the iconic aircraft: by the end of 2017, according to documents filed to the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

"Over the last decade, the 737-800 has replaced the MD-80 as the backbone of the American fleet," American says. Indeed, "in the combined American network, the 737-800 accounts for more domestic ASMs [available seat miles] than the MD-80 and regional fleet combined."

Notably, American doesn't seem to have adjusted its plans to retire the MD-80 on account of the recent reductions in the price of fuel. The fleet, once almost 400-strong, will continue to be replaced by the Boeing 737-800, as well as by new Airbus A319 aircraft, which American calls the "MD-80 domestic network replacement for small, medium or high frequency markets".