Northwest Airlines operates the world's oldest commercial airline fleet, according to a study. At the end of 2003, Northwest's 432 jets averaged 18.1 years, compared with 7 to 10 years for other large carriers. But travelers flying Northwest shouldn't be alarmed. Age does not make a plane less safe, said George Hamlin, director at MergeGlobal Inc., an Arlington, Va., airline and logistics consulting firm. "With proper maintenance, aircraft can be made to go" for a long time, he said.

There is no consensus on how long a commercial plane can fly. But planes such as DC9s, the oldest in Northwest's fleet, can fly for about 45 years, Hamlin said. Experts say Northwest, which has flights to and from Philadelphia International Airport daily, tries to save money by flying the old DC9s that are cheaper to own but less fuel-efficient than newer planes, and slightly more expensive to maintain...... http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/business/7796417.htm

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