Wed, Apr 09, 2003
Retires Last of Boeing 727 Fleet
Delta Air Lines retired its remaining Boeing 727 aircraft
Tuesday in its ongoing effort to simplify its fleet and improve
operational reliability for customers.
"The
Boeing 727 served as an elegant and durable workhorse of Delta's
fleet for more than 30 years. It was a vital part of our company's
growth," said Frederick W. Reid, Delta's president and chief
operating officer. "The retirement of the 727 allows us to simplify
our fleet and realize the benefits of a more efficient fleet mix to
better serve our customers."
The Boeing Co. introduced the 727 in 1964. Delta introduced 727s
into its fleet in 1972 and eventually acquired a total of 184 of
the aircraft.
"The 727 helped us build our strong relationship with Delta,"
said Mike Cave, Boeing's senior vice president of commercial
aviation services. "Our long-term partnership will be key to our
mutual success in the 21st century."
The last 727 revenue flight by a major...
Delta's last
commercial 727 flight was flown from Greensboro (NC), to Atlanta on
Sunday, April 6, and marked the last scheduled airline flight
utilizing this aircraft by a major airline.
What's next? The MD-11s. What's left? Plenty.
With the retirement of the Boeing 727 fleet, Delta now operates six
aircraft types: McDonnell-Douglas MD88/MD90; Boeing 737 family;
Boeing 757; Boeing 767 family; Boeing 777; and McDonnell-Douglas
MD11. Delta will ground the remaining three MD11 aircraft this
year, reducing the number of aircraft types to five by December
2003.
Delta Air Lines, the world's second largest airline in terms of
passengers carried and the leading U.S. carrier across the
Atlantic, offers 5,382 flights each day to 423 destinations in 77
countries on Delta, Delta Express, Delta Shuttle, Delta Connection
and Delta's worldwide partners
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