1990

Neuer Betreiber u.a :

1990 erhält die MD-80 den „1991 Technology Award“ der „Air Transport World“

Dazu:

„ATW`s Airline Technology, our only salute to a manufacturer serving the airline industry, goes to a company that has produced a product that has had a significant impact in helping to develop airline service.

This years, we salute McDonnell Douglas, or more specifically, the Douglas Aircraft portion in Long Beach, for its development and production of the  DC-9 and MD-80/-90 family of twin-jets transports.

“The timeliness of the design, development and production... coupled with the flexibility of the original design resulted in a successful and long-lasting program that has brought efficient jet-powered transportation to a wider portion of the travelling public than might have been possible without it... In all, well over 2,500 of the 11 basic types will be delivered, spanning more than 30 years of airline history, just based on those already delivered and on order. This covers the five basic DC-9s, the five basic MD-80 types, and the MD-90-30.

“... the design has been expanded and stretched all the way from the 104 ft. long , 70-seat DC-9-10 of 1965 to the 171 ft. long , 180-seat MD-90-40 of the 1990s, all with the 2-place cockpits, two engines in the rear under a T-tail and the operating efficiencies to keep airlines signing up fore more. So, for what Douglas came up with in the 1960s and what McDonnell Douglas has continued with in the `70s, `80s and `90s, we salute them all with our Airline Technology Award for 1990."

Courtesy: ATW

Im Januar 1990 bestellt Alaska Airlines 20 MD-90 und vereinbart Optionen für weitere zwanzig Flugzeuge.

Die MD-80 im Vordergrund wurde an FAT ausgeliefert. Courtesy: McDonnell Douglas

Alitalia übernahm am 31.10.1990 ihre fünfzigste MD-82. Zu diesem Zeitpunkt war Alitalia somit der größte MD-80-Betreiber außerhalb der USA und der erste Kunde außerhalb der USA mit 50 oder mehr MD-80.

 Im September 1990 übernahm American Airlines ihre 200ste MD-80 und zu diesem Zeitpunkt war es das erste Mal in der Geschichte der westlichen Zivilluftfahrt, dass eine Fluggesellschaft 200 Flugzeuge eines Typs einsetzte.

Die 139ste MD-80 in 1990 wird an Alaska Airlines ausgeliefert.