How Old is Your Airplane?

Southwest Airlines made the news  after one of its Boeing 737s suffered engine failure but safely landed. Not what the PR department was hoping for following the April 2011 incident when the ceiling tore open on a flight out of Phoenix. That plane was also a Boeing 737.

Despite these incidents, Southwest is lucky. They carry the distinction of having the safest record of U.S. airlines with no fatalities in the airlines history. (If you want to analyze a lot of air safety data, check out: AirSafe.com). But their 737s have the distinction of being the oldest planes in Southwest's fleet, ranging from 14-27 years old.

But the average age of a plane in Southwest's fleet is only 11 years.  Which isn't bad compared to many U.S. airlines. "Of the 5,363 jets used by U.S. airlines today, almost 1,300 are more than 15 years old and 235 of them were built before 1988, the year the government banned smoking on most domestic flights, " the AP reported in April.

But before you get too concerned, the good news is that since Congress passed the Aging Aircraft Safety Act in 1991, airlines are required to inspect aging aircraft more frequently. Which costs more and results in a greater frequency of delayed and canceled flights. 

Apparently the airlines are starting to be concerned as well. American plans to begin replacing its U.S. fleet and Delta plans to retire the 39 DC-9s it flies that date back to the 1970s next year. (Sources: AP and Seeking Alpha blog)

In the meantime, you might want to start paying more attention to what you're flying. And if your plane still has a place to discard your burning cigarette, it isn't good news.