Delta will retire its Douglas DC-9 fleet Jan. 6 the airline said via a press release Tuesday.
"The DC-9 has been a workhorse in our domestic fleet while providing a reliable customer experience," Nat Pieper, vice president of fleet strategy at Delta Fleet Strategy said in a statement. "The aircraft's retirement paves the way for newer, more efficient aircraft," Pieper said.
Delta will fly its final flight of the fleet Jan 6 on a trip from Minneapolis, St. Paul to Atlanta. The segment originates at 4:20 p.m. central standard time.
Delta discontinued use of 350 planes in its fleet such as the 50 seat CRJ-200, Saab 340s, and DC-9 dating back to 2008 the company said in the press release.
The airline has also added Boeing's 777-200LR, regional jets that seat 65 and 76 passengers respectively. There are also versions of its 737, and 717 aircrafts.
Delta had ordered and received 88 of the Boeing 717-200 aircrafts prior to airlines DC-9 announcement. One hundred Boeing 737-900ER planes were also placed and distributed. Both aircrafts were put into use in October and November.
Delta is also receiving 40 airbus aircrafts in 2016. The shipment will have 30 A321's the press release reported.
Delta introduced the DC-9 in 1965 as a way to discontinue use of aircraft's run by propellers on popular routes with short distances.
Delta has dubbed the DC-9's initial flight, the DL1965, and the final flight, the DL2014.
Delta initially stopped flying the aircraft in 1993, and utilized bigger versions of the airplane after the change the press release reported.
The planes became a part of Northwest Airlines, following its buying of Republic Airlines in 1986 according to the press release.
Three hundred and five DC-9's have traveled through the skies in its 49 years of operation the press release reported.
