Delta To Retire Six 27+ Year-Old Boeing 717s Nearly 4 Years Ahead Of Schedule

Delta appears to be starting an early phase of its long-expected retirement of Boeing 717s, with reports indicating six aircraft are set to leave the fleet nearly four years ahead of schedule. The identified airplanes, listed as consecutive registrations N943AT through N948AT, are over 26 years old, with Planespotters.net data showing ages ranging from 26.6 to 27.1 years for the group. Delta had previously announced that the 717 would eventually exit its network, but recent fleet information suggests the process may be underway for selected airframes. The article notes the 717’s role in Delta’s domestic operations as an economical replacement for older MD-88 and MD-90 models after it was acquired largely through the former AirTran fleet. Delta did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and Airbus A220 aircraft are cited as the likely successor.