QATAR, 10 MAR | World's Best Airline- Qatar Airways has confirmed that it will take delivery of 8 Boeing 737 MAX 8 (also known as the 737-8) aircraft. The aircraft is expected to enter operations in early 2024. Earlier this year, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 in Qatar Airways livery was spotted departing Portland airport. This was highly unusual, as the airline had not ordered any of the type. The airline placed an order for 25 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft instead, with no mentions of it possibly acquiring the smaller variant.

Today, Qatar Airways has announced that they were given an opportunity by Boeing to take delivery of some Boeing 737 MAX 8s to help out with their short-haul capacity growth. According to various sources, the airline will be taking up to 8 of the type from sanctioned S7 Airlines, and now-defunct Air Italy.

This new type, alongside the 25 737 MAX 10 and 50 Airbus A321neos will help to expand Qatar Airways's growth in the short-haul market and replace the airlines' aging fleet of 29 Airbus A320s.

Qatar Airways is not a stranger to the 737 MAX 8, as it ordered up to 60 of the type in 2016. The order was cancelled though, and the airframes that were already delivered got transferred to partner, Air Italy.

Sources: ADN, Airways, BOE & Qatar Airways
Image: Quentin Larsen

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