McDonnell Douglas DC-9
The McDonnell Douglas DC-9 is a family of American narrow-body and regional, twin-engine jet airliners. Manufactured by McDonnell Douglas, these aircraft are some of the most popular starter planes for regional airlines.
Basic characteristics
The DC-9-10 is a cheap aircraft optimized short haul and regional airline operations. At a price of only $3,863,390 any startup can afford a modest fleet of these aircraft to build up a domestic or regional network. Its prominence as one of the most accessible short-haul plane models is reflected in the 980+ units that are currently in circulation [June 17, 2026].
The DC-9-30 and DC-9-50 are stretched fuselage variants based on the original DC-9 platform. Their capacities of 115 and 139 pax put them in the Regional Jet XL and Narrowbody categories respectively, meaning the largest DC-9-50 is not available to regional airlines.
Specifications
| Model | DC-9-10 | DC-9-30 | DC-9-50 |
| Capacity (maximum) | 92 pax | 115 pax | 139 pax |
| Service quality | 1.5 stars | 1.5 stars | 1.5 stars |
| Category | Regional Jet | Regional Jet XL | Narrowbody |
| Turnaround time | 59 min | 65 min | 72 min |
| Runway required | 1816 m | 1900 m | 2100 m |
| Range | 2367 km | 2778 km | 3030km |
| Ascent fuel burn | 0.77 | 0.75 | 0.71 |
| Cruise fuel burn | 2.31 | 2.24 | 2.13 |
| Speed | 965 km/h | 804 km/h | 804 km/h |
| Lifespan | 20 years | 20 years | 20 years |
| Manufacturer | McDonnell Douglas | ||
| Country | United States of America | ||
| Price | $3,863,390 | $6,284,823 | $5,407,607 |
| Delivery | 4 weeks | 4 weeks | 4 weeks |
Operational recommendations
Route configuration
All DC-9 models can be quite profitable on routes anywhere in their range but excel on routes under ~1500km. Their low ascent fuel burn of 0.71-0.77 makes them especially attractive on very short routes (>500km), even compared to more modern aircraft like those from Comac or Embraer. In fact in the narrowbody category, the only aircraft with lower ascent fuel burn are newer DC-9 family aircraft and the late-game 737 MAX 8-200.
The DC-9-30 and DC-9-50 have longer ranges and can be utilized on medium-haul and transcontinental routes. However, they are quickly overshadowed by aircraft with lower cruise fuel burn and higher quality.
Cabin configuration
The DC-9-10 performs especially well in an all-economy configuration. This setup maximizes the aircraft's 92-seat capacity, aligning its operation with its ideal passenger experience profile. The -30 and -50 variants are similarly optimized for an all-economy config. Beginner operators are advised to target economy and discount economy passengers with these planes, catering to the following demographics:
- Tourist passengers
- Traveler passengers
- Traveler Small Town passengers
- Business passengers
This broad appeal across multiple passenger types makes the DC-9 a versatile and highly recommended choice for building out an airline's initial short-haul network, especially for regional airlines.