Vueling has pushed back the entry into service of its Boeing 737 MAX fleet to the first half of 2027 after seat-certification issues involving RECARO delayed the cabin installation programme. The Barcelona-based low-cost carrier, part of International Airlines Group, had already seen the introduction slip, and the latest timing now puts the MAX debut several months later than expected.
The delay affects Vueling’s fleet-renewal plans and any operational changes tied to the new aircraft. IAG’s order book includes the MAX 10 variant, and the aircraft itself remains on track for type certification in the fourth quarter of 2026, separating the airframe approval process from the cabin-equipment issue now holding up entry into service.
Vueling is in discussions with RECARO to resolve the certification problem, which centres on the seats rather than the Boeing airframe. The setback underlines how cabin products can still delay airline operations even when a new aircraft programme is advancing through its own regulatory path. For Vueling, the revised timetable extends the wait for a narrowbody fleet update that had been expected much sooner.