{"id":254335,"date":"2025-05-23T21:20:34","date_gmt":"2025-05-23T21:20:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/airline\/alitalias-mcdonnell-douglas-md-80-fleet-where-are-they-now\/"},"modified":"2025-05-23T21:20:34","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T21:20:34","slug":"alitalias-mcdonnell-douglas-md-80-fleet-where-are-they-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=254335","title":{"rendered":"Alitalia\u2019s McDonnell Douglas MD-80 Fleet \u2013 Where Are They Now?"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

\t\t\t139<\/i><\/p>\n

For decades, Alitalia\u2019s fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series aircraft was a familiar and iconic presence at airports across Europe. With their distinctive rear-mounted engines and T-tail design, the MD-80s became the workhorses of Alitalia\u2019s short- and medium-haul operations, connecting Italy to destinations across the continent and beyond. For plane spotters and frequent flyers alike, the green, white, and red livery of Italy\u2019s flag carrier combined with the unmistakable profile of the MD-80 was a hallmark of European air travel from the 1980s through the early 2000s.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Alitalia and the MD-80<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/p>\n

Photo (c) Aero Icarus<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Alitalia first introduced the MD-80 series in 1983, selecting the type as a modern, efficient successor to its aging fleet of Douglas DC-9s and Boeing 727-200s. The airline initially acquired the MD-82 variant, which offered improved range, capacity, and fuel efficiency over its predecessors, making it ideally suited for Alitalia\u2019s high-frequency European routes.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

\n You Might Be Interested In<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

At its peak, Alitalia operated a substantial fleet of over 90 MD-80 series aircraft, mostly MD-82s, with a few MD-83s also entering service. These jets quickly became the backbone of the airline\u2019s domestic and intra-European operations, flying to major cities like Milan, Rome, Paris, Frankfurt, and London, as well as to lesser-served regional destinations.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

An early shot of an Alitalia Douglas DC-9. Jon Proctor (GFDL 1.2 or GFDL 1.2 ), via Wikimedia Commons<\/http:><\/http:><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The MD-80s were praised for their reliability and versatility, though passengers often commented on the noise levels toward the rear of the cabin due to the aircraft\u2019s rear-mounted JT8D engines. Nevertheless, they provided dependable service for more than two decades.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

A Gradual Retirement<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/p>\n

Photo (c) Aero Icarus<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

As aviation technology evolved and environmental regulations tightened, the MD-80s began to show their age. Alitalia started phasing out the type in the mid-2000s, replacing them with newer Airbus A320 family aircraft, which offered better fuel efficiency, modern avionics, and lower operating costs.<\/p>\n

The final commercial flight of an Alitalia MD-80 took place on 27 October 2012 using the aircraft I-DATI on flight AZ1740 (Catania to Milan Linate), marking the end of nearly 30 years of service. By that time, the aircraft had carried millions of passengers and helped define an era of Italian and European air travel.<\/p>\n

The same aircraft operated a final memorial flight on 17 December 2012 with journalists and former Alitalia CEO Andrea Ragnetti on board, and supported by the Frecce Tricolori aerobatic squadron.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Alitalia MD-80 Fleet and Survivors<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/p>\n

An Alitalia MD-80 in Zurich. Photo (c) Aero Icarus<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Alitalia operated over 45 of the McDonnell Douglas MD-80s between 1983 and retirement in 2012.<\/p>\n

These comprised both the MD-82 and MD-83 models, which had minor differences to each other but were very similar in looks and capabilities.<\/p>\n

Following retirement most of the Alitalia MD-80 fleet was sold on to other carriers and continued flying. Many of the fleet were used by Bulgarian carriers European Air Charter and ALK Airways, whilst a number also found their way to Venezuela and Iran. Today, some 13 years later, a number of the aircraft are still active.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Kish Air\u2019s EP-LCL was formerly Alitalia I-DATL. Photo (c) Alan Wilson<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The fleet included:<\/strong><\/p>\n

I-DACM (1755) MD-82 \u2013 Now stored as PJ-MDE.<\/p>\n

I-DACN (1757) MD-82 \u2013 Believed Scrapped.<\/p>\n

I-DACP (1762) MD-82 \u2013 Withdrawn from Use in Varna, Bulgaria.<\/p>\n

I-DACR (1775) MD-82 \u2013 Stored in Bucharest Baneasa.<\/p>\n

I-DACS (1806) MD-82 \u2013 Stored at Sofia, Bulgaria, as LZ-ADV.<\/p>\n

I-DACY (1942) MD-82 \u2013 Stored in Luanda, Angola, as D2-FGJ.<\/p>\n

I-DACZ (1927) MD-82 \u2013 Now TN-AKP with Canadian Airways Congo.<\/p>\n

I-DANU (2009) MD-82 \u2013 Now TN-AJW with Canadian Airways Congo.<\/p>\n

I-DANW (2034) MD-82 \u2013 Now YV-2992 with Aeropostal Venezuela.<\/p>\n

I-DATA (2048) MD-82 \u2013 Now YV-16ES with RUTACA.<\/p>\n

I-DATB (2079) MD-82 \u2013 Now EP-LCJ, recently with Kish Air.<\/p>\n

I-DATD (2081) MD-83 \u2013 Now 4L-YAA<\/p>\n

I-DATE (2053) MD-82 \u2013 Now XA-VBG with Aeronaves TSM.<\/p>\n

I-DATF (2084) MD-82 \u2013 Now EP-LCK with Kish Air.<\/p>\n

I-DATG (2086) MD-82 \u2013 Now YV-563T with Aeropostal Venezuela.<\/p>\n

I-DATH (2087) MD-82 \u2013 Now EP-LCM with Kish Air.<\/p>\n

I-DATI (2060) MD-82 \u2013 Now YV-663T with RUTACA.<\/p>\n

I-DATK (2104) MD-82 \u2013 Withdrawn from Use in Varna, Bulgaria.<\/p>\n

I-DATL (2105) MD-82 \u2013 Now EP-LCL with Kish Air.<\/p>\n

I-DATM (2106) MD-82 \u2013 Scrapped.<\/p>\n

I-DATN (2107) MD-82 \u2013 Stored at Kish Island as EP-SEC.<\/p>\n

I-DATP (2108) MD-82 \u2013 Now EP-MDG with Iran Airtours.<\/p>\n

I-DATQ (2110) MD-82 \u00a0\u2013 Now YV-2957 with Aeropostal Venezuela.<\/p>\n

I-DATS (2113) MD-82 \u2013 Stored Tehran Mehrabad as EP-LED.<\/p>\n

I-DATU (2073) MD-82 \u2013 Stored San Bernardino, CA.<\/p>\n

I-DAVA (1253) MD-82 \u2013 Used as Ground Trainer at London Gatwick, UK.<\/p>\n

I-DAVB (1262) MD-82 \u2013 Withdrawn from Use, Naples, Italy.<\/p>\n

I-DAVC (1268) MD-82 \u2013 Stored at Sofia, Bulgaria, as LZ-LDC.<\/p>\n

I-DAVD (1274) MD-82 \u2013 Withdrawn from Use, Kish Island, Iran.<\/p>\n

I-DAVF (1310) MD-82 \u2013 Stored at Sofia, Bulgaria, as LZ-LDF.
I-DAVG (1319) MD-82 \u2013 Scrapped.<\/p>\n

I-DAVH (1330) MD-82 \u2013 Scrapped.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The remains of I-DAVI, now used as a fire trainer in Rijeka. Photo (c) aceebee<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

I-DAVI (1334) MD-82 \u2013 Parts used as Ground Trainer at Rijeka, Croatia.<\/p>\n

I-DAVJ (1377) MD-82 \u2013 Scrapped.<\/p>\n

I-DAVK (1378) MD-82 \u2013 Scrapped.<\/p>\n

I-DAVM (1446) MD-82 \u2013 Stored at Willemstad, Curacao, as P4-MDC.<\/p>\n

I-DAVT (1597) MD-82 \u2013 Stored at Sofia, Bulgaria, as LZ-DEO.<\/p>\n

I-DAVU (1600) MD-82 \u2013 Now YV-505T with Aeropostal Venezuela.<\/p>\n

I-DAVV (1639) MD-82 \u2013 Scrapped.<\/p>\n

I-DAVW (1713) MD-82 \u2013 Now YV-2793 with Aeropostal Venezuela.<\/p>\n

I-DAVX (1719) MD-82 \u2013 Now YV-3097 with Aeropostal Venezuela.<\/p>\n

I-DAWL (1179) MD-82 \u2013 Crashed at Malakal, February 2024, as 5Y-AXL.<\/p>\n

I-DAWQ (1189) MD-82 \u2013 Now 5Y-AXN, recently flown by African Express Airways.<\/p>\n

I-DAWS (1191) MD-82 \u2013 Used as Ground Trainer at Stockholm Arlanda, Sweden.<\/p>\n

I-DAWW (1233) MD-82 \u2013 Stored at Bucharest Baneasa, Romania.<\/p>\n

I-DAWY (1243) MD-82 \u2013 Withdrawn from Use at Sofia, Bulgaria, as LZ-LDY.<\/p>\n

I-DAWZ (1245) MD-82 \u2013 Scrapped.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Did you ever fly on an Alitalia MD-80? Leave a comment below!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Title image: Stefano Campolo<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p><\/div>\n