48 years can seem like a long time, turning vehicles into antiques. However, an aircraft produced in 1974 is still carrying passengers across the skies today. Around the world, there are also many cases where planes that are nearly 30-40 years old are still operational.
The Boeing 737-200 with serial number 20836 performed its first test flight for the Dutch airline Transavia Airlines in 1974. By 1977, this Boeing 737-200 left Transavia Airlines to “join” the Argentine airline Aerolineas Argentinas. The aircraft continued to “change jobs” to Australian Airlines, Air Florida, MarkAir, and more. In 2004, it arrived in Peru and, over the following years, passed through numerous owners from Italy to Hungary. Since 2014, this aircraft has been serving the small airline Nolinor Aviation (Canada), operating domestic flights. According to Airfleets.net, Boeing 737-200 serial number 20836 is the world’s oldest active passenger aircraft.
The 40-year-old Boeing 737 of Nolinor Aviation. (Photo: The Telegraph).
Additionally, several airlines around the world still operate “senior” aircraft.
For instance, Air Inuit (Canada) operates a Boeing 737 that was produced in 1978.
Rutaca Airlines in Venezuela has a Boeing 737-230 that first flew in 1981.
Mahan Air (Iran) owns an Airbus A300 that was produced in 1987.
Meanwhile, Zagros Airlines, also based in Iran, operates a McDonnell Douglas MD-80 manufactured in 1985.
Little Eastern Airlines (USA) runs a 40-year-old Boeing 767.
Among major airlines, Delta Air Lines (USA) has several of the oldest aircraft in service. The average age of the airline’s Boeing 978 fleet is 15 years. Additionally, they have a Boeing 757 that is 34.7 years old and a Boeing 767 that is 33.8 years old.
Older aircraft sometimes raise concerns about safety, as seen in 2017 when a 31-year-old Boeing 737 from the budget airline Jet2 (UK) had to make two emergency landings within weeks. Two months after these incidents, the Boeing 737 produced in 1986 was “retired.”
The oldest aircraft in Jet2’s fleet is currently a 36.3-year-old Boeing 757. In April 2017, while carrying 238 passengers, it was damaged in the tail but was back in the skies by June of the same year.
So, do older planes tend to have more issues? The answer from airlines and experts is “no,” as long as they are regularly maintained.
Henry Harteveldt, an aviation analyst from the Atmosphere Research Group in the USA, stated: “The issue is not the age of the aircraft but the maintenance. There are DC-3s manufactured in the 1930s and 1940s that are still flying safely in many parts of the world. Delta Air Lines continues to operate Boeing 767s that are over 30 years old.”
John Strickland, an aviation consultant, mentioned some difficulties: “Maintenance increases as aircraft age, taking more time on the ground and raising costs for the operator. This may not be economical, and an airline may decide to retire and remove an aircraft from service. Another consideration is that older aircraft are often noisier and may face financial penalties at some airports.”
