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For decades, Alitalia’s fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series aircraft was a familiar and iconic presence at airports across Europe. With their distinctive rear-mounted engines and T-tail design, the MD-80s became the workhorses of Alitalia’s short- and medium-haul operations, connecting Italy to destinations across the continent and beyond. For plane spotters and frequent flyers alike, the green, white, and red livery of Italy’s flag carrier combined with the unmistakable profile of the MD-80 was a hallmark of European air travel from the 1980s through the early 2000s.
Alitalia and the MD-80
Photo (c) Aero Icarus
Alitalia first introduced the MD-80 series in 1983, selecting the type as a modern, efficient successor to its aging fleet of Douglas DC-9s and Boeing 727-200s. The airline initially acquired the MD-82 variant, which offered improved range, capacity, and fuel efficiency over its predecessors, making it ideally suited for Alitalia’s high-frequency European routes.
At its peak, Alitalia operated a substantial fleet of over 90 MD-80 series aircraft, mostly MD-82s, with a few MD-83s also entering service. These jets quickly became the backbone of the airline’s domestic and intra-European operations, flying to major cities like Milan, Rome, Paris, Frankfurt, and London, as well as to lesser-served regional destinations.
An early shot of an Alitalia Douglas DC-9. Jon Proctor (GFDL 1.2
The MD-80s were praised for their reliability and versatility, though passengers often commented on the noise levels toward the rear of the cabin due to the aircraft’s rear-mounted JT8D engines. Nevertheless, they provided dependable service for more than two decades.
A Gradual Retirement
Photo (c) Aero Icarus
As aviation technology evolved and environmental regulations tightened, the MD-80s began to show their age. Alitalia started phasing out the type in the mid-2000s, replacing them with newer Airbus A320 family aircraft, which offered better fuel efficiency, modern avionics, and lower operating costs.
The final commercial flight of an Alitalia MD-80 took place on 27 October 2012 using the aircraft I-DATI on flight AZ1740 (Catania to Milan Linate), marking the end of nearly 30 years of service. By that time, the aircraft had carried millions of passengers and helped define an era of Italian and European air travel.
The same aircraft operated a final memorial flight on 17 December 2012 with journalists and former Alitalia CEO Andrea Ragnetti on board, and supported by the Frecce Tricolori aerobatic squadron.
Alitalia MD-80 Fleet and Survivors
An Alitalia MD-80 in Zurich. Photo (c) Aero Icarus
Alitalia operated over 45 of the McDonnell Douglas MD-80s between 1983 and retirement in 2012.
These comprised both the MD-82 and MD-83 models, which had minor differences to each other but were very similar in looks and capabilities.
Following retirement most of the Alitalia MD-80 fleet was sold on to other carriers and continued flying. Many of the fleet were used by Bulgarian carriers European Air Charter and ALK Airways, whilst a number also found their way to Venezuela and Iran. Today, some 13 years later, a number of the aircraft are still active.
Kish Air’s EP-LCL was formerly Alitalia I-DATL. Photo (c) Alan Wilson
The fleet included:
I-DACM (1755) MD-82 – Now stored as PJ-MDE.
I-DACN (1757) MD-82 – Believed Scrapped.
I-DACP (1762) MD-82 – Withdrawn from Use in Varna, Bulgaria.
I-DACR (1775) MD-82 – Stored in Bucharest Baneasa.
I-DACS (1806) MD-82 – Stored at Sofia, Bulgaria, as LZ-ADV.
I-DACY (1942) MD-82 – Stored in Luanda, Angola, as D2-FGJ.
I-DACZ (1927) MD-82 – Now TN-AKP with Canadian Airways Congo.
I-DANU (2009) MD-82 – Now TN-AJW with Canadian Airways Congo.
I-DANW (2034) MD-82 – Now YV-2992 with Aeropostal Venezuela.
I-DATA (2048) MD-82 – Now YV-16ES with RUTACA.
I-DATB (2079) MD-82 – Now EP-LCJ, recently with Kish Air.
I-DATD (2081) MD-83 – Now 4L-YAA
I-DATE (2053) MD-82 – Now XA-VBG with Aeronaves TSM.
I-DATF (2084) MD-82 – Now EP-LCK with Kish Air.
I-DATG (2086) MD-82 – Now YV-563T with Aeropostal Venezuela.
I-DATH (2087) MD-82 – Now EP-LCM with Kish Air.
I-DATI (2060) MD-82 – Now YV-663T with RUTACA.
I-DATK (2104) MD-82 – Withdrawn from Use in Varna, Bulgaria.
I-DATL (2105) MD-82 – Now EP-LCL with Kish Air.
I-DATM (2106) MD-82 – Scrapped.
I-DATN (2107) MD-82 – Stored at Kish Island as EP-SEC.
I-DATP (2108) MD-82 – Now EP-MDG with Iran Airtours.
I-DATQ (2110) MD-82 – Now YV-2957 with Aeropostal Venezuela.
I-DATS (2113) MD-82 – Stored Tehran Mehrabad as EP-LED.
I-DATU (2073) MD-82 – Stored San Bernardino, CA.
I-DAVA (1253) MD-82 – Used as Ground Trainer at London Gatwick, UK.
I-DAVB (1262) MD-82 – Withdrawn from Use, Naples, Italy.
I-DAVC (1268) MD-82 – Stored at Sofia, Bulgaria, as LZ-LDC.
I-DAVD (1274) MD-82 – Withdrawn from Use, Kish Island, Iran.
I-DAVF (1310) MD-82 – Stored at Sofia, Bulgaria, as LZ-LDF.
I-DAVG (1319) MD-82 – Scrapped.
I-DAVH (1330) MD-82 – Scrapped.
The remains of I-DAVI, now used as a fire trainer in Rijeka. Photo (c) aceebee
I-DAVI (1334) MD-82 – Parts used as Ground Trainer at Rijeka, Croatia.
I-DAVJ (1377) MD-82 – Scrapped.
I-DAVK (1378) MD-82 – Scrapped.
I-DAVM (1446) MD-82 – Stored at Willemstad, Curacao, as P4-MDC.
I-DAVT (1597) MD-82 – Stored at Sofia, Bulgaria, as LZ-DEO.
I-DAVU (1600) MD-82 – Now YV-505T with Aeropostal Venezuela.
I-DAVV (1639) MD-82 – Scrapped.
I-DAVW (1713) MD-82 – Now YV-2793 with Aeropostal Venezuela.
I-DAVX (1719) MD-82 – Now YV-3097 with Aeropostal Venezuela.
I-DAWL (1179) MD-82 – Crashed at Malakal, February 2024, as 5Y-AXL.
I-DAWQ (1189) MD-82 – Now 5Y-AXN, recently flown by African Express Airways.
I-DAWS (1191) MD-82 – Used as Ground Trainer at Stockholm Arlanda, Sweden.
I-DAWW (1233) MD-82 – Stored at Bucharest Baneasa, Romania.
I-DAWY (1243) MD-82 – Withdrawn from Use at Sofia, Bulgaria, as LZ-LDY.
I-DAWZ (1245) MD-82 – Scrapped.
Did you ever fly on an Alitalia MD-80? Leave a comment below!
Title image: Stefano Campolo
