Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines are reducing their flight operation capacities by 70% or more. This requires major airlines to ground portions of their fleet and park airplanes where they can find space. Marana Regional Airport started providing that space last weekend.
American Airlines and Delta Air Lines are both grounding 50% of their combined 1,800 aircraft fleet. Over the weekend, eight of these aircraft landed at Marana Regional Airport from Los Angeles International Airport. The aircraft are Embraer 175s owned by American Airlines, which have a 76-seat capacity and are used on regional routes. These aircraft are anticipated to be parked in Marana for 12 months, and many more may be coming in the near future.
Marana Regional Airport is a secured facility, and these airplanes will not be available for public tour.
The first airline aircraft to intentionally land at Marana Regional Airport in 77 years.
Fun Fact: This particular aircraft (pictured right) is the first aircraft to have the distinction of being the first airline aircraft to intentionally land at Marana Regional Airport in its 77 year history. This plane touched down at 10:48pm on Saturday, March 28. Over the years, other airline aircraft have landed here unintentionally thinking they were at Pinal Airpark, including an Atlas Air Boeing 747 on December 24, 1996.
