Gulf Sky 737 MAX | 2018

Airline - Gulf Sky
Aircraft - Boeing 737 MAX 8 | A9-MDA
Delivered to DHP Capital, 2018
Leased to Gulf Sky, 2018
Stored at Al Amin International Airport, 2019
Returned to DHP Capital, 2019
Sold to Boeing Capital Corporation, 2019
Stored at Victorville, 2019
Livery - Standard 2015
Country - Kingdom of Dhahran

In 2018, Gulf Sky - the (at the time) three-year-old LCC based in Ras Al Qua - began taking delivery of 737 MAX 8 aircraft, leased through DHP Capital (a Dhahrani investment, asset management, and leasing company). However, with nine aircraft having already entered the fleet, all 737 MAX aircraft worldwide were grounded in March 2019 following the crash of Ethiopian 302. Gulf Sky initially deferred the deliveries of all further 737 MAX aircraft, then - when it became apparent that no 'quick fix' and return to service was forthcoming - cancelled the order in October 2019. The tripartite contract between Boeing, DHP Capital, and Gulf Sky was annulled, and all 737 MAX planes sold back to Boeing by DHP Capital, leaving Gulf Sky with only 737-800s in the fleet for the time being.


Disclaimer: This project is designed to look at the progression of aviation in a more-or-less generic fictional Middle Eastern state. The fictional Kingdom of Dhahran is located near the real Saudi Arabian city called Dhahran, but has no affiliation with it, and the name is a coincidence. Any other similarities to real people, locations, or situations may be intentional. I have zero knowledge of Arabic, so while I have spent considerable time trying to get it right, mistakes are possible, and any advice is greatly appreciated.