Qatar Airways has taken delivery of more Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, with the airline now utilizing four jets of the type within its route network.
The airline introduced its fourth Boeing 737 MAX-8, registered as A7-BSD, on June 12, 2023, according to flightradar24.com data. Then, the narrow-body jet flew from Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) to Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), later returning to the Qatari capital on the same day. Since then, the aircraft has been used on routes from DOH to either AUH or Sharjah International Airport (SHJ), another airport in the United Arab Emirates.
A7-BSD arrived at DOH on June 2, 2023.
Qatar Airways’ third 737 MAX-8, registered as A7-BSB, entered service on May 27, 2023. Boeing delivered the aircraft on May 19, 2023, with the single-aisle jet traveling to Qatar from Everett Paine Field (PAE), the United States (US), via Keflavik International Airport (KEF), Iceland.
The carrier’s first two aircraft of the type, registered as A7-BSC and A7-BSE, entered commercial service on May 9 and May 15, 2023, respectively.
During the past few weeks, Qatar Airways flew in another two 737 MAXs from PAE to DOH via KEF, namely A7-BSG and A7-BSI. Judging by the airline’s previous activity, these two aircraft should enter commercial service soon, mainly flying short-haul regional hops to other destinations in the Gulf.
Meanwhile, the three remaining aircraft scheduled to be delivered have all been spotted test flying from and to Boeing’s facilities in the US. A7-BSA flew as recently as June 16, 2023, while A7-BSH has completed several test flights in the state of Washington, the US, operating a 30-minute flight from Moses Lake Grant County International Airport (MWH) to PAE.
Lastly, A7-BSF operated its first flight in the last three months on June 17, 2023. The aircraft’s first-ever flight was in September 2019, according to ch-aviation data.
It should be noted that all of Qatar Airways’ 737 MAX aircraft were not taken up (NTU) frames intended for S7 Airlines. The Russian airline was originally unable to take delivery aircraft due to the groundings of the type, and subsequently, because Russia was sanctioned for its unlawful invasion of Ukraine.
“Qatar Airways recently had the opportunity to add a small number of B737-8 Max aircraft to its fleet in the coming months as it aims to add capacity to help drive future growth, especially in short-haul markets,” explained a Qatar Airways spokesperson previously.
Qatar Airways’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) also recently stated that the airline has lost its delivery slots for the A321neo. Airbus has now reinstated orders for the type, which is in direct competition with the 737 MAX. However, in the circumstances the aircraft will arrive later than the carrier had initially planned.