IATA D93ICAO DC93

Douglas DC-9-30

Douglas

TravelerPulse profile

Stretched workhorse that defined short-haul jet travel.

First flight

1966

Category

Narrow-body jet

Seating

97–115 passengers

Range

2,780 km

Engines

Two Pratt & Whitney JT8D turbofans, rear-mounted

Status

Retired

The Douglas DC-9-30 is the most successful variant of the DC-9 family, introduced in the late 1960s as a stretched and higher-capacity development of the original DC-9-10. It features a fuselage extended by approximately 4.5 metres compared to the Series 10, allowing it to carry up to 115 passengers in a typical mixed-class configuration. Its rear-mounted twin turbofan engines and T-tail design became iconic features of the type. Powered by Pratt & Whitney JT8D turbofans, the DC-9-30 was designed for short to medium-haul routes, offering operators flexibility and good airfield performance. It entered service with Eastern Air Lines in 1968 and quickly became a popular choice among carriers worldwide due to its reliability and operating economics. Although production ended decades ago, many DC-9-30s remained in service well into the 2000s, particularly with low-cost and regional carriers. The aircraft's design lineage directly influenced the McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series and, ultimately, the Boeing 717.

Notable operators

Major operators included Eastern Air Lines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, Alitalia, SAS, and Ozark Air Lines.

Notable facts

›The DC-9-30 was the best-selling variant of the DC-9 family, with over 660 built.
›Its fuselage was stretched approximately 4.54 metres compared to the original DC-9-10.
›The type introduced an improved high-lift wing with leading-edge slats for better airfield performance.
›Eastern Air Lines was the launch customer, placing the aircraft into service in 1968.
›The DC-9-30's airframe and systems formed the direct basis for the later MD-80 series.