About the MD-88
The MD-88 belongs to the MD-80 family. Delta placed its first MD-88 into service in January 1988 and retired the type in June 2020.
Seating capacity
The Delta Flight Museum lists one Delta MD-88 cabin with 142 seats, including 14 in first class and 128 in coach. An NTSB report separately records a Delta MD-88 with 149 seats.
Cabin layout
An NTSB cabin diagram for a Delta MD-88 shows three coach seats on one side of the aisle and two on the other. Its first-class section used pairs of seats.
How to recognize an MD-88
Look for two engines near the tail and a T-tail. Other MD-80 models have a similar outline. The reported registration and model help confirm that it is an MD-88.
Variants and related aircraft
The MD-88 is related to the MD-82 and MD-83. The FAA lists separate codes for those models and for the later MD-90.
McDonnell Douglas MD-83 · McDonnell Douglas MD-90
Frequently asked questions
How many seats did an MD-88 have?
Delta’s documented layouts included 142 and 149 seats. The count depended on the cabin fitted.
What is the radar code for the MD-88?
The FAA lists MD88 for the MD-88.