Explained: Why Qatar Airways cancelled its Major Boeing order and returned to Airbus

Time of India

6 hours ago

Up: Boeing 737 MAX 10/ Down: Qatar Airways A321neo/ Photo: Qatar Airways, Boeing
In late May 2025, Qatar Airways made the strategic decision to cancel its order for 25 Boeing 737 MAX 10s, a move confirmed by CEO Badr Mohammed Al Meer in an interview with Bloomberg.
a move that not only ends its short-lived venture into the type but also reshapes the airline's entire narrowbody strategy. The order, which also included options for 25 more, was placed during the 2022 Farnborough Airshow, a time when the airline's relationship with Airbus was at an all-time low, the deal was positioned as a solution for the airline's regional network, with Boeing Commercial Airplanes' then-CEO Stan Deal praising the aircraft as "ideally suited for Qatar Airways' regional network."
But two years later, delays in the 737 MAX 10's certification, which has pushed its expected entry into commercial service to 2026 at the earliest, have forced the airline to reconsider. Qatar Airways is not alone in facing these setbacks, major carriers like United Airlines, American Airlines, and
Delta Air Lines
are also waiting, with growing frustration.
In fact, United's Chief Commercial Officer, Andrew Nocella, told Reuters that the 737 MAX 10 isn't expected to arrive before 2027 or even 2028, and the airline is now hesitant to convert any MAX 9 orders into MAX 10s.
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'We want to see the aircraft certified before we make the firm commitment,' Nocella said.
Qatar Airways, meanwhile, opted to walk away entirely.
A Falling Out, and Reconciliation With Airbus
Qatar's move to order the 737 MAX 10s in 2022 wasn't born purely of performance metrics, it was a response to an escalating legal and commercial dispute with Airbus. That year, Qatar Airways grounded all 29 of its Airbus A350s, citing what it described as "accelerated surface degradation" of the aircraft's painted fuselage.
In response, the airline filed a lawsuit seeking $600 million in damages from Airbus and publicly challenged the safety and airworthiness of the A350 fleet. Airbus, while acknowledging cosmetic and surface issues, insisted the aircraft were structurally safe and continued deliveries to other customers.
During this high-profile conflict:
Qatar Airways cancelled its remaining order for 23 Airbus A350s.
The airline also cancelled a separate order for 50 Airbus A321neos, a fleet critical to its short-haul operations.
At the peak of the fallout, the Boeing 737 MAX 10 was pulled in to fill that gap, offering Qatar Airways an alternative narrowbody solution as it severed ties, temporarily, with Airbus.
But in early 2023, the feud reached a resolution. Both parties issued a joint statement announcing that the matter had been settled amicably:
"Qatar Airways and Airbus are pleased to have reached an amicable and mutually agreeable settlement in relation to their legal dispute over A350 surface degradation and the grounding of A350 aircraft. A repair project is now underway and both parties look forward to getting these aircraft safely back in the air."
Following this, Qatar reinstated the order for 50 A321neos, and Airbus resumed delivery plans for the grounded A350s. The settlement not only restored fleet development plans but reset the tone of the Qatar-Airbus relationship.
Why Airbus Is Back In, And Boeing Narrowbodies Are Out
Qatar Airways' Chief Executive Officer Badr Mohammed Al Meer, in an interview with
Bloomberg
, confirmed the airline had dropped the MAX 10 order, which also included options for 25 more aircraft.
This decision, he revealed, was made in conjunction with a massive new Boeing widebody order that dwarfs the value of the narrowbody deal.
Earlier this month, Qatar Airways placed its largest-ever aircraft order, agreeing to purchase 130 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 30 Boeing 777-9s, with options for an additional 50 aircraft, a potential total of 210 widebodies valued at $96 billion.
Responding to whether the airline was playing Boeing and Airbus against each other, Al Meer told
Bloomberg's
Francine Lacqua:
'You know, for the time being, we need to focus on finalizing our agreement with Boeing.
As you saw, we are not like other airlines where we split our orders 20 today, 20 next year. Because we are basing our order on a very solid strategy and we decided to go with the 210 aircraft order. However, it doesn't mean that Airbus is out of the game. Our narrowbodies will continue to be Airbus.'
In a separate public comment, Al Meer reiterated the airline's direction:
'Our narrowbody [fleet] will continue to be Airbus.
We are receiving 50 A321neos starting next year. So our whole narrowbody fleet will be basically operated by Airbus. We continue to receive A350-1000s, and there will always be a chance for another order from Airbus.'
What Qatar Airways' Fleet Looks Like Now, And What's Coming
As of now, Qatar Airways operates a limited narrowbody fleet consisting of:
Current Narrowbody Fleet
27 Airbus A320s
Two configurations:
Version 1: 12 Business + 120 Economy = 132 seats
Version 2: 12 Business + 132 Economy = 144 seats
3 Boeing 737 MAX 8s
8 Business + 168 Economy = 176 seats
Several MAX 8s previously operated by Qatar Airways have already been leased to IndiGo for routes between Qatar and India. The remaining three are expected to be phased out soon, aligning with the airline's plan to standardize its narrowbody fleet around Airbus.
Airbus Orders in Pipeline
40 Airbus A321neos
10 Airbus A321LRs
Deliveries begin in 2026
Current and Future Widebody Fleet
Aircraft Type
In Fleet
On Order
Airbus A350-1000
24
18
Boeing 787
41
130
Boeing 777X
0
90
Qatar Airways is already the largest operator of the Airbus A350-1000 globally. The aircraft typically features two configurations:
24 Business + 371 Economy = 395 passengers
46 Business + 182 Economy = Premium-heavy layout
In the years ahead, the airline will boast one of the most modern widebody fleets in the world, operating from its hub at Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH).
What's Next? More Airbus Orders May Follow
While Boeing has secured a record-breaking widebody order, there's speculation that Qatar Airways may also return to Airbus for additional widebodies. Possibilities include:
More A350s, to complement the airline's current dominance in that model.
Airbus A330-900s, a potential replacement for its aging A330-200s and A330-300s.
Qatar Airways' renewed ties with Airbus open the door for future deals, as the airline looks to refine and expand its fleet under a disciplined, long-term strategy.
The airline is clearly not chasing diversification for its own sake, it's targeting operational efficiency, flexibility, and strategic alignment with its growth ambitions.
As for Boeing, with a growing backlog of 737 MAX 10 orders, the manufacturer now faces intensifying pressure to resolve regulatory hurdles that have kept the aircraft grounded in the certification process. The delays are prompting several major carriers to reconsider their long-term fleet strategies.
Qatar Airways is not alone in stepping back from the MAX 10; United Airlines, one of the aircraft's largest customers, has expressed deep concerns over delivery timelines.
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Alaska Airlines, all with MAX 10 orders in the pipeline, are also closely watching the certification timeline, with some reportedly exploring alternative options or reconfiguring existing commitments.