Qatar Airways mulls swapping Boeing 737-10 for smaller jets

Qatar Airways is reportedly considering removing the Boeing (NYSE:BA) 737-10 model from its order list as the aircraft no longer aligns with its fleet requirements. The airline initially ordered 25 of the 737-10s but is now contemplating a switch to the smaller 737-8s. If the change occurs, Qatar Airways plans to allocate these smaller aircraft to its partners, including RwandAir and Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd., which currently operate the 737-8 model.

This reassessment of fleet needs comes after Qatar Airways solidified its order for the Boeing jets in mid-2022. At that time, the airline was engaged in a complex legal dispute with Airbus SE (OTC:EADSY), which resulted in the cancellation of an order for 50 A321 narrowbody jets. The disagreement, initially centered around the A350 model, was eventually resolved outside of court, and Airbus reinstated the A321 order. This resolution has left Qatar Airways with an excess of Boeing narrowbody planes that are now deemed unnecessary for its operations.

As of now, Qatar Airways has withheld any official statements on the matter. Similarly, a Boeing representative has indicated that the company will respect the decisions of its customer regarding the order adjustments.

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