Olympia Aviation (Pontiac Oakland County International) has introduced a B737-800 to its fleet, conducting charter flights for the Detroit Redwings and Detroit Tigers, an NHL ice hockey and MLB baseball team, respectively, ch-aviation research has learned.
N313TR (msn 36434) is already painted in a white, dark blue, and red livery, which includes the logos of both sports teams on its tail. It has operated flights across the country, mostly departing from Detroit Metropolitan, stopping in airports such as Pittsburgh International, Nashville International, Washington Dulles, St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Chicago Midway, Raleigh/Durham, Fort Lauderdale International, Tampa International, New York Newark, and New York La Guardia.
According to the US Federal Aviation Administration aircraft registry, N313TR is owned by FLY 737 800 II LLC. It was first delivered to VRG Linhas Aéreas (Rio de Janeiro International) in August 2008. After the Brazilian carrier’s merger, it operated for GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes (G3, São Paulo Congonhas) until March 2016. The last operator before Olympia Aviation was Miami Air International (Miami International).
Introducing this aircraft to Olympia Aviation’s services most likely means the retirement of the company’s sole MD-81, the last one of its type still active in the United States. N682RW (msn 48006) has not flown since March 13, 2024, a few days prior to N313TR’s entrance to the carrier’s fleet.
ch-aviation has reached out to Olympia Aviation for comment and clarification on the future of the MD-81.
The ch-aviation fleets module shows that only two MD-81s continue to be active globally, both operated exclusively by Venezuela’s Laser Airlines (QL, Caracas Simón Bolivar).