EgyptAir has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, starting a fleet upgrade with the new generation narrowbody jets. The carrier received the first three of 18 Boeing 737-8s ordered through an agreement with SMBC Aviation Capital.

The aircraft are also the first Boeing 737 MAX jets to enter service in Egypt, marking a new chapter for the airline and the country’s domestic aviation market. EgyptAir is adding the planes as part of a broader effort to modernise its short- and medium-haul network.

The delivery comes as airlines across the region continue to refresh older fleets with more fuel-efficient aircraft. For EgyptAir, the move gives the airline a new single-aisle type to support regional routes and potentially improve operating costs.

The 18-aircraft order gives EgyptAir a sizeable pipeline of MAX jets to add over time. The Boeing 737-8 is part of Boeing’s 737 MAX family and is designed to carry passengers on shorter routes with lower fuel burn than previous-generation models.

SMBC Aviation Capital is providing the aircraft under the lease arrangement, continuing its role as a major lessor to airlines worldwide. The delivery also strengthens the relationship between the Irish lessor, Boeing and EgyptAir as the carrier expands its narrowbody fleet.

EgyptAir has not said when it will receive the remaining aircraft. But the first delivery signals the start of a phased introduction that is likely to reshape part of the airline’s fleet over the coming period.