These Are Delta Air Lines’ Oldest Active Aircraft

Delta Air Lines is one of the world’s largest and most successful air carriers.

Since the early days of air travel, it has grown through expansion, fleet development and mergers with other carriers to be come the airline it is today, with a worldwide reach.

One thing Delta has never shied away from is in utilising aircraft longer than other airlines tend to, and also in acquiring second-hand aircraft fleets.

Most notably, it acquired and kept on a fleet of Douglas DC-9s following its merger with Northwest Airlines in 2008, and at present flies large fleets of Boeing 717 and 737-900 aircraft which have previously flown with other airlines.

Delta’s Fleet Today

Delta Air Lines’ current fleet includes a mix of types, from both Airbus and Boeing. Among these are older types like the Boeing 757, 767 and early Airbus A320s.

It also comprises many modern aircraft, like the A220, A321neo, A330neo and A350, with Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on order.

Delta’s Oldest Active Aircraft

Whilst all of Delta’s fleet is maintained to impeccable standards, with modernised cabins, some of its aircraft are now getting on in years.

Here are Delta’s oldest active aircraft:

Airbus A320 Family

Delta’s oldest A320, N312US. It was delivered new to Northwest Airlines in 1991. Photo (c) ERIC SALARD

• N312US A320-211 – 33 Years
• N317US A320-211 – 33 Years
• N319US A320-211 – 33 Years
• N320US A320-211 – 33 Years
• N321US A320-211 – 32 Years
• N323US A320-211 – 32 Years
• N324US A320-211 – 32 Years
• N325US A320-211 – 32 Years
• N326US A320-211 – 32 Years
• N327US A320-211 – 32 Years

Boeing 757

Delta’s oldest 757, N649DL. Photo (c) Eddie Maloney

• N649DL 757-232 – 35 Years
• N650DL 757-232 – 35 Years
• N651DL 757-232 – 35 Years
• N652DL 757-232 – 35 Years
• N654DL 757-232 – 34 Years
• N655DL 757-232 – 34 Years
• N658DL 757-232 – 34 Years
• N659DL 757-232 – 34 Years
• N660DL 757-232 – 34 Years
• N661DL 757-232 – 33 Years

Boeing 767

Delta’s oldest Boeing 767, N171DN. Photo (c) Oliver Holzbauer

• N171DN 767-332ER – 34 Years
• N172DN 767-332ER – 34 Years
• N174DN 767-332ER – 34 Years
• N175DN 767-332ER – 34 Years
• N176DN 767-332ER – 33 Years
• N177DN 767-332ER – 33 Years
• N178DN 767-332ER – 33 Years
• N179DN 767-332ER – 33 Years
• N180DN 767-332ER – 32 Years
• N182DN 767-332ER – 31 Years

Boeing 717

Delta’s oldest Boeing 717, N949AT, previously flew for AirTran.

• N949AT 717-2BD – 25 Years
• N940AT 717-2BD – 25 Years
• N942AT 717-2BD – 25 Years
• N943AT 717-2BD – 25 Years
• N944AT 717-2BD – 25 Years
• N945AT 717-2BD – 25 Years
• N946AT 717-2BD – 24 Years
• N947AT 717-2BD – 24 Years
• N948AT 717-2BD – 24 Years
• N936AT 717-231 – 24 Years

To see some of Delta’s oldest surviving aircraft, you can visit the Delta Flight Museum next to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta.

Read our full report here:

Visiting the Delta Flight Museum

Delta Air Lines Book

Learn the story of Delta from its founding as Huff-Daland Dusters in the 1920s to the giant present-day carrier in this new book by Matt Falcus. Packed full of photographs through the years, as well as chapters on the airlines Delta merged with, like Northeast Airlines, Western, Chicago & Southern and Northwest Airlines.

Buy the Book