Iraqi Airways (IA, Baghdad) took delivery of the first of six B737-8s on February 26, 2023, and expects a further five by the end of April 2023.
YI-ASL (msn 65405) was ferried from Seattle Boeing Field via Reykjavik Keflavik and onwards directly to Baghdad over the course of February 24-26, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows. As previously announced, the airline plans to take another B737-8 by the end of February, two more in March, and a further two in April.
The state-owned carrier's fleet renewal programme is now in full swing with a fifth and final A220-300 due in March 2023, followed by the first two of its ten B787s later this year. The carrier's Boeing (BOE, Washington National) widebody order book comprises nine B787-8s and a single B787-9, all of which will be delivered by the end of 2026. Iraqi Airways has also decided to add B737-10s with 10 due between 2024 and 2027.
Speaking during the MAX welcoming ceremony, Chief Executive Karim Kazem Hussein stressed that the airline is fully committed to gaining authorisation to fly to the European Union as soon as possible. The airline was added to the European Commission Air Safety List in 2015 over safety supervision lapses. As such, it is barred from operating its own aircraft both to the bloc as well as through its airspace.
