CAIRO, May 3 (Reuters) - EgyptAir and Boeing said in a statement on Sunday that the Egyptian national carrier has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft under a lease agreement that includes 18 aircraft from SMBC Aviation Capital.

The statement quoted Ahmed Adel, Chairman and Managing Director of EgyptAir Holding Company, as saying that the delivery of the aircraft represents a "pivotal step" in the fleet modernization strategy, adding that introducing this model into service will enhance the travel experience and raise operational efficiency.

The new aircraft are scheduled to operate on short- and medium-haul flights to regional and international destinations, including Paris, Brussels, Istanbul, and Vienna. The company stated that the new model offers greater fuel efficiency and reduces emissions by up to 20 percent compared to previous models.

The statement quoted Barry Flannery, head of commercial operations at Dublin-based SMBC Aviation Capital, as saying that the delivery of the first Boeing 737-8 Max aircraft reflects EgyptAir's commitment to modernizing its fleet, while Anbesi Yetbark, vice president of sales and marketing for Africa at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said the delivery represents "the beginning of a new era" for the Egyptian national carrier.

EgyptAir is one of the oldest operators of the 737 family of aircraft in Africa, having started operating them in 1975. In addition to the 737s, it currently operates five Boeing 777s and eight 787 Dreamliners.