Qatar Airways Quietly Walks Away from Boeing 737 MAX 10 Deal

In a quiet but strategic move, Qatar Airways has officially cancelled its order for the Boeing 737 MAX 10. The deal, first announced in 2022, included 25 firm orders with options for 25 more. The confirmation came directly from Qatar Airways’ CEO Badr Mohammed Al Meer during a recent interview with Bloomberg, putting to rest months of industry speculation.

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This cancellation is part of a bigger picture. The airline has just signed a wide-body deal with Boeing that includes up to 210 aircraft, primarily the Boeing 787 and the upcoming 777X. That makes the MAX 10 cut less surprising and more of a course correction for the airline.

A Temporary Boeing Detour

Qatar Airways currently operates a handful of Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, but they were never part of the airline’s long-term plan. These jets were originally intended for Russia’s S7 Airlines but ended up with Qatar Airways due to international sanctions. The airline has already announced plans to phase them out.

Instead, Qatar Airways is doubling down on Airbus for its narrow-body needs. It has 50 Airbus single-aisle jets on order, 40 A321neos and 10 A321LRs. These planes are expected to elevate the onboard experience, with several configurations including lie-flat beds, and will help expand Qatar’s narrow-body fleet from 30 to 50 aircraft.

A Boeing Pivot Born from Airbus Drama

Qatar Airways’ now-cancelled Boeing 737 MAX 10 order was never about preference, it was about necessity. The airline had been locked in a major dispute with Airbus over what it claimed were defects in the A350 fuselage. Airbus called the issue cosmetic, but the clash became so serious that Airbus pulled out of deals and refused to deliver more planes to Qatar.

That standoff led Qatar Airways to pivot toward Boeing for both wide-body and narrow-body aircraft. But the situation shifted again in 2023, when the two sides reached a settlement. Airbus reinstated Qatar’s orders, and the relationship was patched up.

Back to the Original Plan

With the Airbus dispute resolved, Qatar Airways is going back to its original strategy. The A321neo is a better fit for the airline’s operational needs than the 737 MAX. The fleet is already Airbus-heavy, so sticking with a single manufacturer for narrow-body aircraft creates easier logistics, cost savings, and smoother operations.

Strategic Realignment, Not a Shock

Qatar Airways’ cancellation of the 737 MAX 10 order wasn’t a surprise, it was just a matter of timing. It reflects a strategic return to form, with Airbus narrow-bodies powering regional and mid-range routes, and Boeing wide-bodies handling long-haul growth.

By aligning its future fleet with its long-standing preferences, Qatar Airways is doubling down on efficiency, consistency, and passenger comfort.