A trio delivery of Boeing 737 MAX 8 to Iraqi Airways

Three Boeing 737 MAX 8 aeroplanes took off from Seattle Boeing Field one after the other on March 24th (BFI). The three planes took off towards Baghdad International Airport (BGW), which could be their future home with Iraqi Airways (as the airline has multiple bases). The airline is off to an amazing start this year. The airline has been receiving a growing number of next-generation aircraft, with its first 737 MAX arriving in February and its first Boeing 787 recently leaving the assembly line.

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The three Boeing 737 MAX 8s delivered to Iraqi Airways are registered as follows, according to aviation.flights:

(MSN 65406/8538) YI-ASX

(MSN 65410/8529) YI-ASN

(MSN 65409/8516) YI-ASM

Before delivery, the three aircraft each had three to four test flights, with total test-flight periods ranging from five to eight hours.

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While the range of these next-generation narrowbodies is far greater than that of earlier generations, the planes still cannot fly from Boeing facilities to the Middle East in a single flight. In this situation, two legs were necessary, which is still quite spectacular! The last delivery to Iraqi Airways took the planes from Boeing Field to Keflavik Airport in Iceland. The planes all arrived within 30 minutes of each other in the early hours of March 25th and rapidly refuelled before continuing their voyage to Iraq.

The future for Iraqi Airlines is promising as it receives more fresh new, modern planes from Airbus and Boeing. While the first two Airbus A220-300s landed in late 2021, many more are due this year. The carrier received its third A220 in December 2022, followed by its fourth the following month. The airline introduced its first 737 MAX in February, and this current delivery will be the airline's second, third, and fourth of the same model.

Iraqi Airways Captains, who commanded the trio delivery flights of three Boeing 737MAX8s, including the first Iraqi lady to command a delivery flight - Capt. Rzin Mohammad - Image: Iraqi Airways

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In terms of widebodies, the carrier's first Boeing 787-8 was observed in mid-March at Boeing facilities in Charleston. According to aviation.flights website, the aircraft has yet to fly any test flights, so it may be some time before the airframe arrives in the Middle East. Iraqi Airlines anticipates nine 787-8s and a single -9.

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