Qatar Airways will acquire nine Boeing 737 MAX 8s originally intended to join the fleet of S7 Airlines. Sanctions against Russia following the military invasion of Ukraine have led to a number of problems and cancellations of deliveries of new Western-produced aircraft to operators in that country.
The carrier based at Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH) expects to take delivery of the aircraft in the coming months. It aims to increase capacity on short- and medium-haul routes amid growing travel demand in the region.
See also: Russia authorises S7 Airlines to return two Boeing 737 MAX 8 to foreign lessors
The registration numbers of the new 737 MAX 8s for Qatar Airways
As reported by Doha News, these are the Qatari registration numbers for the new airplanes, which were to be delivered through lessor Air Lease Corporation, and their previous Russian registrations:
- A7-BSA (ex VP-BXE).
- A7-BSB (ex VP-BXI).
- A7-BSC (ex VP-BXJ).
- A7-BSD (ex VP-BXK).
- A7-BSE (unknown registration).
- A7-BSF (ex VP-BXF).
- A7-BSG (ex VP-BXM).
- A7-BSH (ex VP-BXG).
- A7-BSI (ex VP-BXH).
As part of the Farnborough International Airshow, in 2022 Qatar Airways placed an order for 25 Boeing 737 MAX 10. That initial order may be modified by the addition of aircraft originally intended for the Russian carrier.
Qatar Airways currently maintains all its commitments to the American manufacturer despite having resolved its dispute with Airbus, which began after a complaint about paint defects on the surface of its A350s.
An opportunity for airlines outside Russia
In today’s aviation market, characterised by rapid recovery and growth in demand, airlines are trying to seize every possible opportunity to expand or upgrade their fleets. Uncompleted deliveries to Russian operators are therefore an additional option.
S7 Airlines, based in Novosibirsk, Siberia, took delivery of two Boeing 737 MAX 8 in 2018, before the nationwide ban on operations of the model came into effect. However, the company had to return the planes to their lessors in August last year.
Two months earlier, Turkish Airlines subsidiary AnadoluJet had taken delivery of five 737 MAX 8 that were originally to join its fleet.
