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New Coffee Shop Inside an MD-80 Opens

A coffee shop inside the fuselage of a former McDonnell Douglas MD-80 just opened in Miami.

Miami’s newest aviation attraction: an MD-80 coffee shop (Photo: Reddit user Business_Swimming152)

Airlines aren’t known for their top-notch onboard coffee offerings. But one permanently-grounded airliner might just put a whole new twist on the trend of less-than-stellar airplane coffee.

According to WPLG, a new coffee shop – called Sky Coffee Buenos Aires – is located in Miami’s Brickell neighborhood. The owner, Rosana Bentos, once wanted to become a flight attendant and even sold her house to purchase the forward portion of the MD-80’s fuselage.

The onboard menu is better than what is available on some airlines these days. So-called ‘luxury’ coffee drinks are served, plus a VIP section with cappuccinos featuring 24k edible gold. Several food offerings are available as well, such as empanadas, treats, and sandwiches.

For those looking to get work done in the former jet, the shop’s website says that “onboard WiFi” is available in addition to power outlets.

Repurposing an MD-80

The repurposed aircraft is a McDonnell Douglas MD-88 that previously belonged to Delta. Once registered as N965DL, the jet flew for the airline for nearly 30 years before being retired in 2019, then later scrapped in 2020. Delta retired its entire fleet of ‘Mad Dog’ aircraft in June 2020.

The new coffee shop just opened in early December and has been a hot spot for aviation and coffee lovers alike, according to local news reports. As the business grows, Bentos told WPLG that there may even be opportunities to expand the concept further.

Ryan Ewing
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  • Ryan Ewing

    Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

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