Spanish low-cost carrier Volotea has retired its remaining 9 Boeing 717s. It was the last European operator of the type and was 1 of 4 operators of the type as of the beginning of this year. Volotea received its 1st Boeing 717 (which was its 1st aircraft) in May 2012, EI-EWI, when the airline started operations. It has operated a total of 19 Boeing 717s in its 9 year-long history and now currently leases a fleet of 20 Airbus A319s, with 3 more on order. All Volotea 717s were delivered by May 2015, and the airline began retiring its eldest 717s in September 2016. 7 of its 717s were retired this year. Most Boeing 717s that were delivered to Volotea had began operations with American carrier Midwest Airlines before being transferred to Mexicana (the former flag carrier of Mexico) subsidiary Mexicana Click. When Mexicana ceased operations in 2010, these aircraft were stored for 2 years before their arrival at Volotea’s former base in Barcelona. There are 104 Boeing 717s currently in use with Delta, Hawaiian Airlines and Qantas Link (the regional subsidiary of Australian flag carrier Qantas), respecitvely the larger operators of the aircraft.
Aeronews24 