Vueling delays Boeing 737 MAX entry to 2027
Vueling has postponed introducing its first Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into service to the first half of 2027. The delay is attributed to certification issues with RECARO seats, affecting the carrier's planned fleet transition.
Vueling will not introduce its first Boeing 737 MAX aircraft until the first half of 2027. The Barcelona-based low-cost carrier, part of International Airlines Group (IAG), cites delays in the certification of new RECARO seats for the latest postponement.
According to Spanish media reports cited by AeroTime, the seat certification process has taken longer than expected. Vueling has confirmed it is in talks with seat manufacturer RECARO to resolve the issue, but the holdup is anticipated to last several months.
Fleet Transition and Orders
Vueling, which has historically operated an all-Airbus fleet, is set for a major shift. The carrier was initially allocated 50 Boeing 737 MAX jets from a mega-order IAG placed in 2019. In May 2026, IAG exercised options for 10 more aircraft, bringing Vueling's total commitment to 60 Boeing 737 MAX planes.
The airline is expected to transition to an all-Boeing fleet over several years. Data from ch-aviation shows Vueling's current fleet, as of September 2, 2026, consists of 137 Airbus aircraft.
| Aircraft Type | Number in Fleet |
|---|---|
| A320ceo | 97 |
| A320neo | Not specified (part of total) |
| A321 (neo & ceo) | Not specified (part of total) |
| A319 | Not specified (part of total) |
Aircraft Specifications and Routes
The first aircraft to join Vueling's fleet will be the Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 variant. This model will be configured with 197 seats, providing eight more seats than the airline's current 189-seat Airbus A320s. A larger variant, the Boeing 737 MAX 10, is slated to join the fleet later. IAG has at least 25 MAX 10s on order, but their introduction depends on the aircraft's type certification, which is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The inaugural commercial flight was originally scheduled for December 2026 on the Barcelona to Alicante route. Services from Barcelona to Sevilla, Palma de Mallorca, and Rome Fiumicino were to follow. This entire flight program is now subject to change due to the new entry-into-service timeline.
Wider Industry Context
Seat certification delays are not unique to Vueling. The issue has recently affected several other European carriers. Lufthansa, for instance, has been forced to operate some aircraft without its new Allegris First Class seats. Similarly, KLM is expected to begin flying its new Airbus A350s without a business class cabin due to comparable certification problems.
The delay pushes back Vueling's long-planned entry into Boeing operations, with the carrier's first MAX flight now likely occurring in a different season than initially planned.
