[somecontext]

For some context in case anyone is curious: putting together information from various websites suggests that the following is the oldest plane in commercial service today. https://m.planespotters.net/airframe/Boeing/737/5Y-CGV-Zone-...

It is a Boeing 737-200 and it has been in service for 43.7 years.

[TylerE]

Hardly.

There are still DC-3's in commercial operation, and production of those ended in 1942.

http://www.buffaloairways.com/ is one operator.

[JAlexoid]

They don't seem to be a scheduled service operator. They look like a charter airline.

Common definition of a "commercial operation" for airlines is scheduled operation, not charters.

So... That boeing just may be the oldest flying airliner on scheduled routes.

[somecontext]

It appears you are correct in this regard and the websites I used are not.

Are there any such planes used for regular scheduled (passenger) airline services? It appears to me that Buffalo Airways is charter and cargo only.

[cheerlessbog]

They have two Curtiss C-46 from 1945. Its interesting that its cheaper to continue to pay for the maintenance and fuel than lease something more modern.

[TylerE]

Replacements don’t exist. Those old prop liners can operate off unimproved dirt strips, grass, even snow and ice - and off short runways too.

Jets don’t like that.

For back country missions the only thing maybe better than a DC-3 is a Basler... and that is a modernized DC-3 with reinforcements and turboprops for more power. They suck a lot more fuel than a plain DC3 though, which can be problematic as some of these fields they have to fly fuel in.

[goatinaboat]

A C130 should be a viable modern alternative for those use cases, if economic

[TylerE]

A fully loaded DC-3 can takeoff in just over 2000ft. A C-130 needs almost 4000ft.

[JAlexoid]

There are no small planes that can replace DC-3. C-130 is massive!