Qatar Airways completed the inaugural scheduled flight of its first Boeing 737 MAX 8 on Tuesday 9 May. The aircraft has a two-class interior configuration and a total of 176 seats.
See also: Qatar Airways took delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX
Qatar Airways’ first Boeing 737 MAX 8 now in regular operation
The aircraft, which received the registration A7-BSC, took off from Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) at 08:51 local time, covering flight QR 1070. One hour and three minutes later, it landed at Kuwait International Airport (KWI). The aircraft then returned to the main air terminal serving Qatar’s capital, operating flight QR 1071.
Qatar Airways took delivery of the aircraft on 14 April. It was originally intended to join the fleet of Russian carrier S7 Airlines. However, as a result of sanctions against Russia following the military invasion of Ukraine and cancellations of deliveries of new Western-produced equipment to operators in that country, many orders were redirected.
Following an agreement with Air Lease Corporation (ALC), Qatar Airways expects to take delivery of a total of nine 737 MAX 8 in the coming months that S7 Airlines will not receive. The aim is to increase capacity on short- and medium-haul routes amid growing travel demand in the region.
Qatar Airways bets on 737 MAX
Qatar Airways had also placed an order for 25 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft at the 2022 Farnborough International Airshow. However, this variant has not yet received the required operational certification. It is possible that the initial order will be modified based on the addition of equipment originally intended for the Russian airline.
The new aircraft will gradually replace Qatar Airways’ Airbus A320s. According to the Cirium platform, the carrier uses the European manufacturer’s type on flights to more than 50 destinations in 36 countries in the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
