USA Jet Airlines takes world’s first MD-88(F)

USA Jet Airlines (UJ, Detroit Willow Run) took delivery of the world’s first converted MD-88(F) on January 8, 2022.

N833US (msn 53215) was ferried from Dothan to Detroit Willow Run after conversion by Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI), sporting the cargo charter specialist’s new livery. It has yet to be deployed into revenue service, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows.

The Michigan-based airline announced plans to add three converted MD-88s in March 2021. At that time, it also secured a further three options for the aircraft but has since expanded its portfolio of acquired MD-88s to fourteen units, including the one recently redelivered, the ch-aviation fleets ownership module shows. All fourteen jets are ex-Delta Air Lines (DL, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson) stock and are between 28.8 and 34.1 years of age.

The only remaining operators of MD-88s in passenger configuration are Iran’s Taban Air (TBN, Mashad) with five and Venezuela’s Rutaca Airlines (5R, Ciudad Bolívar) with two inactive aircraft, the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows.

For its part, USA Jet Airlines also operates three B727-200(F)s, two DC-9-10Fs, one DC-9-10RC, one DC-9-30(CF), two DC-9-30Fs, and two MD-83(SF)s.