Romania’s Blue Air takes first B737 MAX 8

Blue Air (Romania) (0B, Bucharest Otopeni) took delivery of the first of ten B737-8s on dry-lease from Air Lease Corporation on March 30, 2021. YR-MXA (msn 43309) was ferried from Seattle Boeing Field via Reykjavik Keflavik to Bucharest Otopeni on March 30-April 1, 2021. The Romanian airline plans to take three more Boeing narrowbodies this year and the remaining six in 2022. “The accelerated replacement of our classic fleet is ensured by the long-lasting strategic partnership with Air Lease Corporation as Blue Air’s main lessor. This and the next projected deliveries will ensure Blue Air’s resilience and will secure our company position as the main Romanian player in the passenger aviation market,” majority shareholder Cristian Rada said. Blue Air currently operates one B737-300, five B737-500s, one B737-700, and nine B737-800s. All of them, except four -500s, are dry-leased from Air Lease Corporation (six -800s), Carlyle Aviation Partners (three -800s), GECAS (the -300), and Thunderbolt Aircraft Lease (the -700, which is managed by Air Lease Corporation). The privately-owned airline vows to continue growth driven by leisure and diaspora traffic, rather than far more uncertain business traffic. Blue Air plans to go public through an IPO in 2022.