Delta Air Lines (DL, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson) has announced it has discontinued scheduled MD-88 operations out of New York La Guardia as of Thursday, March 2.

The carrier said in a statement last week its decision to switch the McDonnell Douglas twinjets out for a combination of more modern A320, B737, and MD-90 equipment would minimize environmental impact at the busy airport and reduce ambient noise levels for residents of the neighbouring borough of Queens.

“Delta flights on quieter, more efficient and larger aircraft are good for the community and will also support NextGen initiatives around more fuel-efficient GPS routes in New York airspace, the most congested in the world," Henry Kuykendall, Delta’s Vice President – New York, said.

According to the ch-aviation route database, Delta used its MD-88s to connect La Guardia with Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit Metropolitan, Fort Lauderdale International, Miami International, Minneapolis St. Paul International, New Orleans International, Orlando International, Sarasota/Bradenton, Tampa International, and West Palm Beach International.