China Eastern – MD-90-Farewell

[IberiaMD-87]

China Eastern Airlines finally retired their last MD90-30 (B-2268 ) during a ceremony on 3 August 2010 with the last aircraft acting as a nice background.

The company introduced their first MD-90s in 1997 and took delivery of nine aircraft. The entire fleet was sold to Delta Air Lines. The only remaining MD-90-fleet in PR China is now operated by China Southern Airlines with 13 aircraft (including two locally-manufactured MD-90s) but China Southern announced a few weeks ago that they’ve found a buyer for their entire fleet and the retirement is believed to be imminent. First serious rumours about the retirement at China Eastern were published in July 2010 but only yesterday I´ve found some reliable sources with some sort of confirmation that the retirement was accomplished.

Regards

[DAL767-400ER]

The only remaining MD-90-fleet in PR China is now operated by China Southern Airlines with 13 aircraft (including two locally-manufactured MD-90s) but China Southern announced a few weeks ago that they’ve found a buyer for their entire fleet and the retirement is believed to be imminent.

Indeed, things point to them being headed for Atlanta as well, with the two China-made MD-90s being used for spare parts, due to not being 100% identical to the other MD-90s.

[IberiaMD-87]

...the two China-made MD-90s being used for spare parts, due to not being 100% identical to the other MD-90s.

I´ve heard this too but I was unable to find a reliable source. Nevertheless it is simply wonderful that Delta is adding second-hand MD-90s to strenghen their MD-88/-90-fleet.

On th eother hand it´s sad that there are no longer MD-90s in the classic livery of China Eastern Airlines.

Regards

[DAL767-400ER]

I´ve heard this too but I was unable to find a reliable source. Nevertheless it is simply wonderful that Delta is adding second-hand MD-90s to strenghen their MD-88/-90-fleet.

It's especially wonderful from a financial POV. No one else wants MD-90s, so they can be acquired dirt-cheap. And at the same time, operating economics are on level with both the 738 and A320, even more so when DL goes to 160 seats on the planes instead of the current 150. Plus, there are plenty MD-90s available. DL already has the 9 MU ones "on order" as well as 3 of Hello's, plus they are also close to getting the 3 other Hello planes, CZ's planes, the JAL MD-90s, and the Blue1 ones, though neither has been officially confirmed yet. Regardless, it is quite likely DL will have at least 50 MD-90s operational by the end of next year.

[Vnav]

Regardless, it is quite likely DL will have at least 50 MD-90s operational by the end of next year.

They've identified a potential fleet of 65.....which reminds me, I've got an MD90 Systems differences CD in my nav bag that I've got to do in the next few weeks prior to my Sim to pick up my -90 qual.

[DAL767-400ER]

They've identified a potential fleet of 65.....

That would go with the rumored "confirmed" deals I have heard of:

16 Delta
9 China Eastern
13 China Southern
6 Hello
16 JAL
5 Blue1

for the mentioned total of 65. That leaves out the 11 planes operated by UNI and EVA, which are not poised to be retired soon, the 5 Lion Air planes (though with Lion Air's rep, DL will probably want to steer clear of them) and the 29 Saudi Arabian planes, all of which are scheduled to be replaced by A320s, but due to having MD-11 style cockpits, aren't attractive to Delta (well, unless SV offers them a killer deal to make up for the cost of having a small subfleet).

[IberiaMD-87]

Thanks for your update!

Regarding the UNI MD-90-fleet: in 2005 some articles stated that the company aimed to replace their MD-90s with “more modern aircraft” and the Boeing 737-800 and Airbus A320 were mentioned as possible candidates to replace them. Despite these plans the MD-90s of UNI Air are still very much in evidence and at least one MD-90 received the updated and even more simplified (yet recognizable) livery. The aircraft are believed to be heavily used on sometimes very short flights within Taiwan but the number of longer legs to Japanlace, South Korealace and Southeast Asia etc.. grew over the years.

In the end it’s some kind of irony that Delta is now in the process of adding MD-90s after dumping their large order after only 16 delivered aircraft and very bad statements about the aircraft made. These statements were rather hefty (not only criticizing the reliability but the overall performance of the aircraft like range etc..). In my opinion this was a major blow to the entire MD-90-programme that the verdict of the launch-costumer was that bad. The current build-up of the MD-90-fleet is probably not based on the fact that the MD-90 was once tailor-made for the requirements of Delta rather than a financially very favourable way to enhance a contemporary modern, efficient, and very quiet 160-seat aircraft-fleet.

Delta made a wise choice to take the chance to get “dirty cheap” MD-90s because no other airline is really interested to get MD-90s and this is a very big advantage for Delta while at the same time this situation shows the commercial failure of the MD-90. It is - however – a very nice coincidence that Delta takes these MD-90s and this will ensure that these sleek airliners will be well-maintained and cared for by their new owner.


Regards!

[SAMRPICS]

The other question that i have to ask is what do these MD-90's arriving do to any active fleet of DC-9's that Delta have. Id imagine they wont continue using them much longer if they still use them at the moment. Not sure as ive not been to the USA or heard anything mentioned about them. Still its a very clever move by Delta to pick up these aircraft as they are still fairly modern and as has been put nobody really wants them.

[IberiaMD-87]

Most sources say that the DC-9-30s will be retired in September 2010 while the DC-9-50s will stay longer in service. The small DC-9-40-fleet will be problably retired in winter 2010/11 (?).

BTW: The last MD-90 of China Eastern (used as a nice background during the farewell-ceremony) was delivered to Delta between 10- 14 August on a very long delivery flight.

Regards!

[DAL767-400ER]

The -30s are down to less than a handful already and will be gone by the end of September. The -40s were supposed to be retired at the same time, whoever due to the increased demand they are hanging on until summer next year, and the -50s are here to stay until 2012 at least.

The MD-90s aren't a direct DC-9 replacement though, they will be used to replace planes across the board, be it 50-seat RJs or some of the oldest MD-88s and 757s, as well as allow for increased capacity.

[HalcyonDays]

I don't know if Delta really made "very bad statements" about the MD-90, but one of the major reasons this otherwise fine and under-appreciated airliner did poorly on sales was the Boeing acquisition of McDonnell-Douglas. This came at just the wrong time for the MD-90, which competed too much with the 737NGs. The MD-90 died because Boeing had little interest in it and never supported it.

[IberiaMD-87]

I remember that I´ve read such bad statements in 1996 in aviation magazines and at least one article (I think it was "Air International") claimed that Delta is considering the early-retirement of the newly delivered MD-90s and the purchase of Airbus A320s. These news were later overshadowed by the announcement to take Boeing 737-800s.

Regards

[CathayPacific]

Thanks for your update!

Regarding the UNI MD-90-fleet: in 2005 some articles stated that the company aimed to replace their MD-90s with “more modern aircraft” and the Boeing 737-800 and Airbus A320 were mentioned as possible candidates to replace them. Despite these plans the MD-90s of UNI Air are still very much in evidence and at least one MD-90 received the updated and even more simplified (yet recognizable) livery. The aircraft are believed to be heavily used on sometimes very short flights within Taiwan but the number of longer legs to Japanlace, South Korealace and Southeast Asia etc.. grew over the years.

In the end it’s some kind of irony that Delta is now in the process of adding MD-90s after dumping their large order after only 16 delivered aircraft and very bad statements about the aircraft made. These statements were rather hefty (not only criticizing the reliability but the overall performance of the aircraft like range etc..). In my opinion this was a major blow to the entire MD-90-programme that the verdict of the launch-costumer was that bad. The current build-up of the MD-90-fleet is probably not based on the fact that the MD-90 was once tailor-made for the requirements of Delta rather than a financially very favourable way to enhance a contemporary modern, efficient, and very quiet 160-seat aircraft-fleet.

Delta made a wise choice to take the chance to get “dirty cheap” MD-90s because no other airline is really interested to get MD-90s and this is a very big advantage for Delta while at the same time this situation shows the commercial failure of the MD-90. It is - however – a very nice coincidence that Delta takes these MD-90s and this will ensure that these sleek airliners will be well-maintained and cared for by their new owner.


Regards!

The UNI Air and EVA Air MD-90s are a bit different. I think 2 or 3 of them are actually the longer range MD90-50 instead of MD90-30, which has their range over 5000km. They are quite useful in BR and B9's routes to SE Asia, which easily stretch over 4hrs of flying time. And Delta may not want to take a few odd ball MD90-50s. The MD90s have been quite reliable in EVA's routes as well.

It may end up that Delta becomes the sole operator of MD90s, plus EVA/UNI running another group of 5 or 6 aircraft. And the MD90s will stay in Delta's fleet for ages, just like how the DC9-30s have stay in NWA.

[IberiaMD-87]

Thank you for your reply. It´s nice to read that the MD-90s at EVA are doing quiet well!

I think 2 or 3 of them are actually the longer range MD90-50 instead of MD90-30, which has their range over 5000km. They are quite useful in BR and B9's routes to SE Asia, which easily stretch over 4hrs of flying time. And Delta may not want to take a few odd ball MD90-50s.

I think that you mean the MD90-30IGW and MD90-30ER because sadly no MD90-50 was really developed. However most people say that the MD90-30ER offers some sort of the planned performance of the MD90-50.

Regards