Vueling has postponed the introduction of the Boeing 737 MAX into commercial service, with the first flights using the new aircraft type now expected during the first half of 2027. According to AeroTime, the latest delay is not related to the aircraft itself but to the prolonged certification process for passenger seats manufactured by RECARO.

The Spanish low-cost airline, part of International Airlines Group (IAG), has confirmed that it is holding discussions with RECARO to resolve the issue. However, the process is expected to take several more months, making the originally planned entry into commercial service in December 2026 unfeasible.

Vueling’s first commercial Boeing 737 MAX flight was scheduled to operate between Barcelona and Alicante. The new aircraft were then due to be introduced on routes from Barcelona to Seville, Palma de Mallorca and Rome Fiumicino. As the MAX will enter service during a different part of the flight schedule than initially planned, changes to the initial route programme are also expected.

Vueling was originally allocated 50 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft from IAG’s large order. The agreement was signed at the 2019 Paris Air Show, when the group ordered 50 aircraft and secured options for another 100. After IAG exercised ten of those options in May 2026, the number of aircraft allocated to Vueling increased to 60.

The first aircraft are expected to be the 737 MAX 8-200 version, fitted with a 197-seat cabin. This represents eight more seats than the 189-seat configuration used on Vueling’s Airbus A320s. The larger 737 MAX 10 is expected to join the fleet at a later stage, with the start of deliveries dependent on completion of the type’s certification. IAG has at least 25 aircraft of this version on order, while certification is currently expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.

The introduction of Boeing aircraft will represent a major change for Vueling, which has operated exclusively with Airbus A320-family aircraft throughout its history. The airline is expected to gradually transition to an all-Boeing fleet over a period of several years.