Delta Air Lines is reportedly preparing to retire six Boeing 717 aircraft beginning in July, potentially marking the start of an earlier-than-expected phaseout of the type.
The information was disclosed by industry insider JonNYC, who said aircraft numbered 9503 through 9508 are scheduled to leave the fleet between July and August. According to the report, the jets had previously been expected to remain in service until around 2030.
If confirmed, the move would affect registrations N943AT through N948AT, all of which entered Delta’s fleet in 2015 and are among the oldest 717s operated by the airline.
The Boeing 717 traces its origins to the McDonnell Douglas MD-95 program. Following Boeing’s merger with McDonnell Douglas in 1997, the aircraft was rebranded as the 717 and entered service in 1999.
Records show the six aircraft were delivered new to AirTran Airways between September 1999 and February 2000. Delta acquired them after AirTran was absorbed by Southwest Airlines, which did not retain the type in its fleet. Beginning in 2013, Delta took over most of AirTran’s 717 fleet, eventually becoming the world’s largest operator of the aircraft.
The carrier currently operates about 80 Boeing 717s, primarily on short- and medium-haul domestic routes. The twin-engine jet occupies a niche between larger regional aircraft and the Boeing 737 family, typically seating around 110 passengers.
The 717 has earned a reputation for reliability and high dispatch rates, but its Rolls-Royce BR715 engines consume more fuel than newer-generation aircraft. Rising operating costs and the availability of more efficient alternatives have led many airlines to retire the type over the past decade.
Delta has not publicly announced plans to accelerate the retirement of the 717 fleet. However, the airline continues to receive Airbus A220s, which are widely viewed as the long-term successor to the aircraft within its narrowbody fleet.
