The MD-80 was built by McDonnell Douglas and certified by the Federal Aviation Administration in August 1980 and entered airline service two months later.

The plane is more than 147 feet long and can accomodate a maximum of 172 passengers. The plane has two seats on the left hand side, and three on the right.

There are four MD-80 models -- the MD-81, MD-82, MD-83 and MD-88. The MD-80s non-stop range is between 1,500 and 2,700 miles, depending on the model. Boeing, which maintains the plane after merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997, said that the plane's Pratt & Whitney JT8D-200 engines and aerodynamic design produces operating costs among the lowest in commercial aviation.

American Airlines operates the largest number of MD-80s, a fleet of 275. Swissair and Austrian Airlines began the first service of MD-80s. In addition, 35 MD-80 airplanes were assembled and are operating in the People's Republic of China.

The MD-80 is maintained by Boeing, which merged with McDonnell Douglas in 1997.