Due to the use of the aging JT8D engines, the MD-80 is not fuel efficient compared to the A320 or newer 737 models; it burns of jet fuel per hour on a typical flight, while the larger Boeing 737-800 burns per hour (19% reduction).
Douglas Aircraft je razvil DC-9 v 1960ih kot letalo s kratkim dosegom, ki bi dopolnjeval večjega DC-8.