Venezolana has brought a 37-year-old McDonnell Douglas MD-88 into service after one of its MD-83s was damaged in a ground incident at El Libertador military airfield in Palo Negro, Venezuela. The carrier moved quickly to restore capacity after the MD-83, registration YV3499, struck a fixed obstacle while manoeuvring on the ground on 20 August, leaving severe damage to the left wingtip.
The replacement underscores how smaller Venezuelan operators are leaning on ageing MD-80-family aircraft to keep flying despite limited fleet options. The MD-88 is older than the damaged MD-83, reflecting the restricted availability of narrowbody jets in the local market and the practical need for immediate substitution rather than a longer-term fleet adjustment.
The incident adds to a series of operational pressures facing carriers in the country, where classic DC-9 derivatives remain in niche use. Accessible reporting confirms the damage and the aircraft swap, but not any broader operational disruption, repair timeline or formal company update.