Qatar Airways has officially parted ways with its last Boeing 737 MAX 8, bringing an end to a brief and unusual chapter in the airline’s fleet strategy. The final aircraft, registered A7-BSF, departed Doha Hamad International Airport for Shannon, Ireland, on December 1, confirming reports that the carrier no longer operates the narrowbody type.
Final 737 MAX 8 Departs Qatar Airways Fleet
The jet had been grounded since August 2025, joining several others that were gradually phased out during the year.
According to fleet records, Qatar Airways once operated nine 737 MAX 8s, all delivered in 2023 after sanctions prevented their original customer, Russia’s S7 Airlines, from receiving them.
Short-Lived Tenure Ends After Extensive Leasing
Despite their modern design and efficiency, the 737 MAX 8s never became a long-term fixture in Qatar Airways’ operations.
Beginning in mid-2024, the airline leased most of the jets to IndiGo, with airframes returning to Doha months later before being placed in storage.
Several of the aircraft have since found new homes. Data from international registries shows that Royal Air Maroc has already taken delivery of three ex-Qatar Airways MAX jets, A7-BSC, A7-BSE, and A7-BSG—with two more scheduled to join the Moroccan carrier’s fleet soon.
Qatar Airways’ final scheduled MAX flights were operated in January, serving short-haul routes to Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, marking the end of the type’s commercial operations for the airline.
A Strategic Shift Toward Airbus A321neo
While retiring the MAX, Qatar Airways has simultaneously accelerated deliveries of the Airbus A321neo, welcoming six new aircraft between September and November.
These jets, initially meant for AirAsia, are helping the airline rebuild its narrowbody strength. One A321neo, A7-AJD, has already been leased to IndiGo, echoing the MAX leasing strategy but with a longer-term vision in mind.
The airline initially acquired the MAX fleet in 2023 to quickly boost capacity during a period of rapid growth.
At the time, Qatar Airways described the aircraft as a “welcome addition” to its short-haul ambitions. Two years later, the carrier appears fully committed to a reshaped narrowbody strategy centered on Airbus technology.
“As a rapidly growing airline, these efficient and modern aircraft are a welcome addition to the narrow-body fleet to support our sustainable expansion plans as the world’s leading airline,” stated the airline.
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