Originally Posted by tjisnumbaone (Post 11528883)

Sometimes they do send the M88 to SLC. The M88 went to PHX, but that was almost 10 years ago. But the M88's don't go to the west coast because they can't take off during the hot temperatures. That's why the M90's fly out of SLC to SAN/SNA/LAX/PHX/DEN/PDX/SFO/SEA/OAK/BUR.

Originally Posted by mersk862 (Post 11528913)

MD-88s have been regulars on ATL-TUS (1541 miles) and have made the appearances on ATL-PHX (1587 miles). Still, nothing compared to how AA uses their MD-80s - ORD to LAX (1745 mi), SAN (1723 mi), SFO (1846 mi), SEA (1721 mi) and STL to SAN (1555 mi), LAX (1590 mi) and SFO (1733 mi).

As for the -90s being out of SLC, the reason for hot and high is part of the reason (the -90s do have better performance during a high-altitude summer than the -80s, but it doesn't preclude -80s being used at these airports - AA uses them to DFW and ORD out of SLC year-round), but also their quietness. For some airports out west (SNA is probably the most well-known that's served by mainline jets, but I think SAN might have some restrictions as well), there are restrictions based on the noise footprint of the plane. The MD-90 is quite possibly the quietest plane I've ever been on, and has a substantially smaller noise footprint than the -80s. Helps out with some of those airports.




Delta had plans to have the MD-90 be the backbone of the domestic fleet in the early 1990s. They were going to be the replacement for quite a few of the 727s in the fleet (as well as 757s on the higher end, and Delta had a rather large order for 737-300s to replace 737s and for use on some smaller 727 routes). In the end, with the merger between MDD and Boeing, Delta canceled their MD-90s (allowing Boeing to close the MD-90 line) and went with the 737-800, which offered quite a bit more than the MD-90s.

Originally Posted by nperdue (Post 11528154)

I just booked a flight from MSP to SLC (DL1457) on May 17th and noticed that the aircraft is an MD-88. I have never seen the Delta MD-88 operate in Salt Lake City...is this a first? We have plenty of MD-90's come here.

Originally Posted by tjisnumbaone (Post 11529012)

Yes, AA does even BOS-DFW which is insane. Now those are the ancient ones, the M88's are just old. AA has taken some of them out already. I can see how DL has the 738 - replacing the M88 and the 73W replacing the M90 eventually.

Originally Posted by mersk862 (Post 11529127)

BOS-DFW on the MD-88 isn't too bad - I've done it before. That one clocked in at 1562 miles. I've also done DFW-SEA on an Alaska MD-80 before at 1660 miles. I found it preferable over a 757 or 737 - I had the 2 side exit row, so plenty of legroom and easy access to the aisle.

As for replacements, the 737-700 won't replace the MD-90 - completely different missions. The 737-700 was acquired for its performance at restricted airports - SNA, Tegucigalpa, some Caribbean markets. The 737-700 seats 124 passengers compared to 150 on the MD-90, so it's not a great replacement. When the time comes (which is probably a decade away - rumor is DL's looking at acquiring some second-hand MD-90s even), it will be either an A320 (148 seats), 737-800 (160 seats) or whatever Boeing and Airbus decide to build as replacements for these planes that will take over for the MDs.

Originally Posted by indufan (Post 11529384)

Ok, so I had read here since about the time that I started reading here that the MD-88 wasn't able to fly out of SLC because it wasn't rated for a single engine climbout. Then a few years ago, I flew on a MD-88 SLC-CVG...it was originally supposed to be a MD-90. Does anyone know exactly what the restrictions are?

Originally Posted by MastaHanky (Post 11528405)

The MD-88s sometimes rotate through SLC during the winter when high-and-hot performance isn't much of an issue.

They're a bit more rare during the summer though.