The 717 is Delta’s smallest mainline jet after the A220’s 109 seats, making the A220 a natural replacement for the 717 in New York. Hawaiian Airlines has shared that it does not plan to retire its Boeing 717-200 aircraft for at least another five years. The A220 costs $27/hour but benefits from an average stage length twice as long (979 miles). Cutting the aircraft comes as a form of broader fleet simplification at DL, a step seeming ever more essential as airlines globally are dealing with declining passenger numbers resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Delta Air Lines (DL, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson) has accelerated the retirement of two of its mainline types, B717-200s and B767-300(ER)s, to 2025 while the phase-out of the CRJ200s operated by its regional capacity providers has been brought forward to 2023. The 717 has some key differences to the MD-88 and MD-90 that will be retired by June. Hard to put much stock in an aircraft retirement plan 5+ years in the future. So that's a little longer than 5-7 years. Delta’s fleet also consists of 91 Boeing 717s, which are basically updated and smaller versions of the MD-80s. The A220 and A320 will replace 717 flying in New York while the A320 and 737 will do so in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Delta said to pilots. “The retirement will accelerate the airline’s strategy to simplify and modernize its fleet, while continuing to operate newer, more cost-efficient aircraft,” Delta DAL, -0.86% said. Delta last week disclosed it was retiring the 777 and MD-90, in addition to its previously planned MD-88 phase-out. Delta really has nice seats in First Class on their 717's. Row is perfectly situated Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Delta Air Lines has set out plans to retire all of its Boeing 717s and 767-300ERs. Let the rumors begin on potential aircraft orders. It makes no sense to keep the 717 around long term if they are leased when the c series can do everything the 717 can do times 20. For Delta, used Boeing 717 and MD-90s allowed them to retire their DC-9s while also being cheaper to acquire than buying brand-new jets from Airbus or Boeing. Delta currently has 78 of the 91 717 on a lease, meaning that such retirement of that aircraft will be more expensive as new leasing contracts will need to be renegotiated. The Boeing 717, nee MD-95, while similar may be “right-sized” for the return to service as a 100 seater, and may survive longer than the other former McDonnell-Douglas counterparts. The Boeing 717, nee MD-95, while similar may be “right-sized” for the return to service as a 100 seater, and may Still in prime flying shape after its Delta career, Ship 717 finished its flying career helping to fight fires on the West Coast before enjoying a sunny desert retirement in 2008. The A220 is only $430/hour, but is a much newer aircraft. With those decisions coming just weeks after air travel essentially returned to 1950s levels, it may have come as a surprise why Delta unveiled a new round of aircraft retirements — but not for at least another three years. Delta currently has 78 of the 91 717 on a lease, meaning that such retirement of that aircraft will be more expensive as new leasing contracts will need to be renegotiated. The airline carrier is the largest airline in the world, member of SkyTeam aviation alliance. The retirement will accelerate the airline’s strategy to simplify and modernize its fleet, while continuing to Front to back: 717, DC-9, MD88, MD90 on ramp at Technical Operations Center in Atlanta They were enough to last the 3.5 hour flight from BOS-RSW. “Over the next two years we are currently projected to operate half of the 717 fleet (approximately 30-45 aircraft),” Delta said in a memo to pilots. That will leave 717 bases in Atlanta and Detroit. 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