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MD-90

McDonnell Douglas Boeing Commercial Airplanes (from Aug. 1997) Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Company (under license) · Narrow-body jet airliner · United States · Modern (1992–2009)

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The McDonnell Douglas MD-90 was an American narrow-body airliner — the re-engined successor to the MD-80 and the final stretched derivative of that family. McDonnell Douglas developed the type between 1989 and 1995, flew the prototype on 22 February 1993, and delivered the first aircraft to Delta Air Lines for service entry on 1 April 1995. Production ran from 1995 to 2000 and totalled 116 airframes. Customers included Delta (the largest with 65 aircraft), JAL, China Southern, Reno Air and Hainan Airlines. The last passenger services ended in 2020.

Power came from two International Aero Engines (IAE) V2525-D5 turbofans rated at 25,000 lbf each — far quieter and thirstier-no-more than the MD-80's JT8D. Maximum cruise sat at Mach 0.76, range stretched to 3,860 km, service ceiling reached 11,300 m, and MTOW was 70,760 kg. Seating ran from 153 to 172 in a cabin marginally wider than the MD-80's. In essence the MD-90 was an MD-80 fitted with the V2500, an updated cockpit and small airframe refinements — a stopgap pending the planned MD-95, which emerged after the merger as the Boeing 717.

Commercial reception was tepid. Better fuel burn and lower noise were not enough to overcome the price gap against second-hand MD-80s flooding the market. Boeing inherited the programme in the 1997 McDonnell Douglas merger and shut the MD-90 line in 2000 — after only five years — to concentrate on the 717 and 737NG. Delta flew its 65 jets until the COVID-19 fleet rationalisation of March 2020, when the entire group was withdrawn. No fatal MD-90 accident has occurred in commercial service, giving the type an exceptional safety record. As of 2026, only a handful remain active anywhere.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The McDonnell Douglas MD-90 was an American passenger jet from the 1990s. It looked almost exactly like the older MD-80 but had quieter and more fuel-saving engines. The plane could carry about 153 to 172 people on short flights.

The MD-90 first flew in 1993. Delta Air Lines was the biggest user, with 65 of these jets in service. China Southern, JAL, and Hainan Airlines also flew them. But only 116 MD-90s were ever built before the line shut down.

The MD-90 had two engines mounted on the back of the plane near the T-shaped tail. These were new V2500 engines made by a company called IAE. They were much quieter than the older MD-80 engines. People living near airports could finally sleep better at night.

The plane was a bit heavier than the MD-80 but flew at the same speed, around 500 mph. Its wingspan was about as long as a basketball court. The MD-90 cost more than a used MD-80, so airlines did not order many. The last passenger MD-90 flights ended around 2020.

Fun Facts

Delta Air Lines was the biggest MD-90 owner with 65 of the jets.
Only 116 MD-90s were ever built — far fewer than the 1,191 MD-80 family jets.
The new V2500 engines on the MD-90 were much quieter than the older MD-80 engines.
The MD-90 looked almost the same as the MD-80 from the outside.
The plane was supposed to be replaced by the MD-95, which became the Boeing 717 after Boeing bought McDonnell Douglas.
Most MD-90 passenger flights ended around 2020.

Kids’ Questions

What is different between the MD-80 and the MD-90?

The MD-90 used newer V2500 engines, while the MD-80 used older JT8D engines. The MD-90 was quieter and used less fuel. The cabin was also a tiny bit bigger.

Why did so few MD-90s get built?

Boeing bought McDonnell Douglas in 1997 and stopped making new MD-90s soon after. Airlines also liked the new Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 better, so they did not order many MD-90s.

Variants

MD-90-30 (1995): Standard production variant. 116 built.
MD-90-30ER (proposed): Extended-range proposal. Never built.

Notable Operators

Delta Air Lines (1995-2020): Largest operator with 65 aircraft.
Japan Airlines (1996-2013): Principal Japanese operator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the MD-90 fail commercially?

The MD-90 entered service in 1995 just as the Boeing 737NG (service entry 1997) and Airbus A320 (1988) were locking down the 150-seat narrow-body market. Three factors hurt sales. First, the MD-90 was an evolutionary update of the MD-80 — same fuselage cross-section, broadly the same performance — while the 737NG arrived with a clean-sheet wing and glass cockpit. Second, while the V2500 was an excellent engine, fleet commonality favoured the CFM56 used on the 737NG and offered as an A320 alternative. Third, the 1997 Boeing-McDonnell Douglas merger placed the MD-90 in direct competition with Boeing's own 737NG inside the same company, and Boeing steered sales and production resources toward the 737NG. By 2000 Boeing ended MD-90 production after just 116 aircraft.

Sources

Wikipedia — McDonnell Douglas MD-90