American Airlines is retiring the last of its McDonnell-Douglas MD-80 fleet as the take their last journey to Roswell, New Mexico.

A principle work horse for the airline since the 1980’s the last 26 are finally on their final flights.

Once one of the worlds most efficient aircraft, American operated a staggering 362 of them in 2003, around a third of the total built.

American’s final MD-80 revenue flight, American Flight 80, is scheduled to depart DFW for the last time at 9 a.m. bound for O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. From there, the plane will ferry to Roswell to join the other MD-80s in their final days.

The last flight, AA 80 DFW – ORD, was operated with ex-TWA N984TW. The former TWA DC-9-83 (MD-83) N984TW was named “The Spirit of Long Beach” with TWA and was the las DC-9-80 (‘Super 80’/MD-80) built.