Summary
- Only two US-bound MD-80 routes remain, both to Miami International Airport, operated by RED Air and Sunrise Airways.
- Utilization of MD-80s has declined with more efficient narrowbodies rising in favor over the past few decades.
- Only eight airlines worldwide are still flying the MD-80, with the largest operators being Iranian and Venezuelan carriers.
For an aircraft that first entered service in 1980, it’s no surprise that the McDonnell Douglas MD-80s has all but disappeared from the US (and indeed, the world) as a passenger jet. Over a 20-year production run, there were over 1,190 MD-80s (and variants) built, with the final airframe rolling off the production line in 1999.
Photo: MS_Digital | Shutterstock
With American Airlines retiring its MD-80 fleet before the COVID pandemic, Delta’s decision to accelerate its retirement of the type in the early pandemic days essentially ended its presence on US soil. However, you’d be surprised to learn that the MD-80 can still be found, albeit very rarely, in the US as a passenger aircraft, but only at a single airport: Miami International Airport (MIA).
Two MD-80 services to US remain
As per data from aviation analytics firm Cirium, there are only two US-bound MD-80 routes in existence as of August 2024, both of which are to Miami’s main airport, MIA. They consist of a daily flight operated by Dominican Republic-based low-cost carrier RED Air and a mere two flights with Haitian airline Sunrise Airways.
Airline |
Origin |
Destination |
Aircraft Type |
Flights (monthly |
Seats (monthly) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Red Air |
La Romana International Airport (LRM) |
Miami International Airport (MIA) |
MD-80 |
31 |
4,557 |
Sunrise Airways |
Cap-Haïtien International Airport (CAP) |
Miami International Airport (MIA) |
MD-83 |
2 |
306 |
With a block time of 150 minutes, Red Air’s daily flight departs from the resort town of La Romana at 10:45, arriving in Miami at 13:15, with the return leg leaving MIA at 14:45 and arriving in La Romana at 17:15.
Data from July shows Sunrise Airways operated 13 MD-83 flights from CAP to MIA, as well as 14 flights from Haiti’s busiest airport, Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP), serving the capital Port-au-Prince. However, the airline does not have any scheduled services after August.
Only eight operators left
With more efficient narrowbodies rising in favor in the past couple of decades – such as the Airbus A320-family, Boeing 737-family, Embraer’s E-Jets and the Bombardier CRJ Series – utilization of the MD-80 has steadily declined across the globe.

Related
The MD-80 – Everything You Need To Know
The MD-80 was a popular aircraft in many regions, still in very limited service.
Cirium data shows that in August, there will only be eight airlines worldwide flying the MD-80:
- African Express Airways (Kenya)
- Iran Air Tour (Iran)
- Kalitta Charters (USA)
- RED Air (Dominican Republic)
- LASER Airlines (Venezuela)
- Sunrise Airways (Haiti)
- ATA Airlines (Iran)
- Venezolana (Venezuela)
The largest operators by some distance are the two Iranian carriers – ATA Airlines and Iran Air Tour – followed by Venezuelan carrier LASER Airlines.
ATA Airlines
ATA will be flying almost 1,200 flights with its fleet of seven MD-83s and one MD-82, representing around 40 flights per day. In all, this will amount to over 182,00 seats across more than 45 routes for the month.
Photo: EvrenKalinbacak | Shutterstock
Iran Air Tour
Iran Air Tour will operate over 700 flights in August with its fleet of five MD-82s, one MD-83 and one MD-87, which have a combined average age of 33 years old. The carrier will serve almost 50 routes with its MD-80s, offering over 113,000 seats.
LASER Airlines
Venezuela’s LASER Airlines will be the third biggest MD-80 operator worldwide, with almost 500 flights this month. The carrier maintains a fleet of four MD-81s, three MD-82s and two MD-83s, offering over 72,000 monthly seats on 18 routes this August. Interestingly, LASER is the parent carrier of Dominican-registered airline Red Air.