The series of McDonnell Douglas MD-80 (DC-9-80) planes are nicknamed “Mad Dog”. In five similar versions (MD-81, MD-82, MD-83, MD-87 and MD-88) a total of 1191 planes were bulit between 1980 and 1999. There probably isn’t a country in the world where these planes have never landed.
The last air carrier which operated these planes in Europe was Bulgarian company European Air Charter (H6/BUC), earlier known under the name Bulgarian Air Charter. The last 7 planes of this type were replaced by newer Airbus A320 planes during this year. The last operating aircraft had a registration LZ-LDP, was built in 1990 for the Italian air carrier Alitalia (AZ/AZA), and had flown on its last flight on Saturday, October 21 from Hurghada to Varna.
The first operator of these planes in ex-Yugoslavia was Adria Airways (JP/ADR), which was also one of the first operators of this type of aircraft in the world. They were operated in Slovenia until 1994. Also, Croatian flag air carrier Croatia Airlines (OU/CTN) started with flight operations in 1991 with two of these planes leased from Slovenian company Adria Airways. Latwr, these planes were also operated by two Croatian private air carriers Air Adriatic (XH/AHR) and Dubrovnik Airlines (2D/DBK). The last one under Croatian flag was operated on October 23, 2011 in Dubrovnik, nearly 12 years ago.
