Summary Delta Air Lines operates the world's largest fleet of 76 active Boeing 717-200s, Boeing 717s average 23 years old, above the fleet-wide average. Delta Air Lines plans to retire all 717-200s by December 2025, citing a lack of future cash flows compared to carrying value. The Airbus A220 is a likely replacement for the Boeing 717s, as Delta Air Lines welcomes new A220s into its fleet, offering similar capacity and fuel efficiency.
In summer 2023, Delta Air Lines hit the headlines when one of its Boeing 717s touched down in Charlotte without its nose landing gear deployed . While there were no injuries, this was not the first incident involving a Delta 717 in 2023, with another example having diverted due to a fuel leak in March. These occurrences have brought the 717 into the spotlight.
What does Delta Air Lines' 717 fleet look like, and what plans does the carrier have for the type's retirement? Delta Air Lines' Boeing 717 fleet To understand the matter at hand, let us first examine the number of Boeing 717 aircraft that Delta Air Lines currently has at its disposal. According to data from ch-aviation , the Atlanta-based carrier's fleet includes 90 717-200s, of which 76 are currently active. This makes the Skyteam member airline the world's largest operator of the 717 (QantasLink and Hawaiian Airlines are the only other two commercial airlines to currently fly the type).
These aircraft are among Delta Air Lines' oldest, with the jets clocking in at around 23 years old .