Qatar Airways (QR, Doha Hamad International) wants to axe an order for twenty-five B737-10s, according to Bloomberg. The order was placed in mid-2022 when the carrier was involved in a dispute with Airbus. However, the relationship has since improved and the B737 MAX variant is reportedly no longer required. Currently, the B737-10 is not expected to enter into service until late 2025 at the earliest, with certification running years behind schedule.
Instead, the airline may swap the B737-10s for B737-8s which it may hand on to RwandAir (WB, Kigali) and Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane International). Qatar Airways recently acquired a 49% stake in RwandAir, and wants to buy a 25% stake in the Australian airline. Both carriers operate B737-8s.
Qatar Airways placed the order for the B737-10s during its high-profile dispute with Airbus over flaking paint on A350s. The airline's refusal to take deliveries of aircraft led the manufacturer to cancel an order for fifty A321-200N and twenty-three A350-900s. The parties have since restored the order after resolving their disagreement.
In addition to the B737-10s, Qatar Airways has 175 aircraft on order. They include the restored fifty A321-200Ns, eighteen A350-1000s, one B777-300ER, one B777-8F, sixty B777-9s, and twelve B787-9s.
Qatar is predominately a widebody operator. Its operating in-house narrowbody fleet is limited to twenty-nine A320-200s. It also operates nine B737-8s inducted in mid-2023, shortly after the agreement with Airbus. However, none of these operate for Qatar Airways. Six are damp-leased to IndiGo Airlines, while the other three are parked.
The airline has declined to comment on the Bloomberg report.
