Iraq’s state-owned airline, Iraqi Airways, took delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet on February 26. The aircraft was received at Baghdad International Airport and is part of an order for six aircraft of the type placed by the Iraqi government in 2017. Another five aircraft of the type will be sent to the carrier by the end of April this year.
Iraqi Airways is undergoing a fleet renewal phase. In addition to the 737 MAX 8, the Iraqi airline also has orders for 10 models of the MAX 10 version, with deliveries expected between 2024 and 2027.
The fleet of widebodies, currently made up of old Boeing 747, 767, 777 and A330, will be updated with ten 787 Dreamliner, nine of which are the 787-8 version and a single 787-9, which will be received between this year and the end of 2026 .
The Arab company’s backlog also includes the Airbus A220-300. The carrier, which already has four aircraft in service, expects to take delivery of the fifth and final jet next month.
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With a network of flights concentrated in the Middle East, Iraq Airways hopes to regain authorization to fly to the European Union soon.
Since 2015, Iraq has been on the EU Air Safety List of airlines banned from operating within the airspace of the economic bloc.
