MD-80 American AirlinesAmerican Airlines MD 80 airplane model. In response to the rising fuel costs of the mid 1970s, operators of the DC 9 were offered new versions of the aircraft by McDonnell Douglas. The DC 9 50 was upgraded to the DC 9 Super 80 in October 1977, with an increase in wingspan by 14 ft. 5 in. and fuselage length by 14 ft. 2 in., allowing for a maximum of 172 passengers to be accommodated. In June of 1983, the company introduced a new MD designation system,