Iraq’s flag carrier Iraqi Airways has taken delivery of a Boeing 737 MAX 8, the first of its type for this company. The narrowbody jet, registration YI-ASL departed from Seattle on February 24 and landed in Baghdad two days later after a layover in Reykjavik, Iceland.

A new aircraft for Iraqi Airways

Last month Iraqi Airways received the first of 16 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft ordered a few years ago with Boeing. The flag carrier held a ceremony marking the plane’s introduction. The new plane was welcomed at the company’s hub with the traditional water salute. During the ceremony, Iraq’s Transport Minister, Razzaq Al-Saadawi, said the delivery schedules of the remaining aircraft on order had been arranged.

Iraqi Airways Boeing 737-800
Photo: Iraqi Airways

It is reported that Iraqi’s new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft is configured in a two-class layout.

Iraqi Airways is renewing its fleet, and so far, the State carrier has taken delivery of four Airbus A220-300s and one Boeing 737 MAX. Nonetheless, Iraqi Airways also expects to receive at least two additional A220s (there’s the possibility of more if Iraqi Airways validates the option for 11 additional planes), 14 MAX planes (including ten of the -10 variant), and nine Boeing 787 Dreamliners (nine of the -8 version and one of the -9 version).

As reported by several media outlets, Iraqi Airways has set a fleet renewal plan in motion. These new-generation aircraft are crucial to achieving the company’s goals, which include obtaining the lifting of its restrictions in Europe. The carrier has been blocked since 2015, which has prevented it from operating flights to or from Member States of the European Air Safety Agency (EASA).

Iraqi Airways expects to receive its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner this year and at least one of the 737 MAX 10s between 2024 and 2027.

Iraqi Airways map route

According to data from Cirium, Iraqi Airways operates about 426 weekly flights, with an average seat capacity of 120 seats per departure. The company’s most important route is the international service between Al Najaf (NJF) and Kuwait City (KWI), with 48 weekly flights. Other key services for Iraqi Airways are Baghdad-Erbil (17 weekly flights) and Bagdad-Basrah (13 weekly flights). According to its website, Iraqi Airways currently operates its domestic and international network out of its hub Baghdad International Airport to 45 destinations.

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According to ch-aviation, Iraqi Airways currently has a fleet of 36 aircraft, of which 18 are active and 17 inactive. The airline has four Airbus A220-300s, three Airbus A320ceos, two A321ceos, and one A330-200. It also operates 19 planes from the Boeing family, including one 737-700, one MAX 8, 15 737-800s, two Boeing 747-400s, and one 777-200(LR). Finally, it has six CRJ900LRs. This is the largest fleet size it has had in the last 23 years.

What do you think of Iraqi Airways' new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: ch-aviation, Airways Magazine, FlightGlobal, Iraqi News.

  • 787-8 Dreamliner
    Boeing
    Stock Code:
    BA
    Date Founded:
    1916-07-15
    CEO:
    Dave Calhoun
    Headquarters Location:
    Chicago, USA
    Key Product Lines:
    Boeing 737, Boeing 747, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Boeing 777, Boeing 787
    Business Type:
    Planemaker