Qatar Airways Places $200B Jet Order with Boeing

Boeing has secured its largest widebody aircraft order in company history after Qatar Airways announced plans to purchase up to 210 jets, including 130 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 30 777-9 aircraft, with options for 50 additional planes. The multi-billion-dollar deal was unveiled during former U.S. President Donald Trump’s state visit to Doha, with Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg and Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer attending the signing ceremony at the Amiri Diwan.

In tandem with the aircraft order, Qatar Airways also signed a significant agreement with GE Aerospace to supply more than 400 engines for the new Boeing planes. According to the companies, this marks GE Aerospace’s largest-ever purchase of widebody aircraft engines.

Qatar Airways CEO Badr Al-Meer said the order represents a strategic investment in the airline’s growth and sustainability goals. “This is a critical next step for Qatar Airways on our path as we invest in the cleanest, youngest, and most efficient fleet in global aviation,” he said. “This is so we can meet the strong demand in the airline as we seamlessly connect passengers to the world better than anyone.”

Stephanie Pope, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, described the agreement as a transformative moment. “This record-breaking order solidifies their future fleet with our market-leading widebody airplane family at its center,” she said.

The Boeing 777-9, part of the delayed 777X program, has yet to enter service and is still awaiting certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. With seating for up to 426 passengers, it is Boeing’s most advanced widebody jet.

The White House estimated the total value of the order at $96 billion and claimed it could support over 1 million U.S. jobs, including 154,000 annually. Boeing and Qatar Airways projected the deal would result in around 400,000 U.S. jobs, many of which would be linked to the company’s production facilities, including the Charleston, South Carolina plant where some of the new aircraft will be assembled.

The deal arrives at a pivotal time for Boeing, which has faced mounting challenges including manufacturing delays, safety concerns, and a prolonged machinist strike. While the company has not posted an annual profit since 2018, CEO Kelly Ortberg recently noted a $500 billion order backlog and said efforts to narrow losses are underway.

The announcement could also bring renewed political attention. Critics have raised questions about Trump’s defense of Qatar’s separate offer to gift the U.S. a luxury 747-8 BBJ jet to be used as the next Air Force One. The gesture has faced criticism from both Democratic lawmakers and some Republican allies who argue it may pose ethical and constitutional concerns.

Still, the Qatar Airways deal represents a significant vote of confidence in Boeing’s widebody aircraft and could help revitalize the U.S. manufacturer’s long-term commercial aviation prospects. If fully exercised, the agreement would nearly double Qatar Airways’ current fleet of 233 aircraft.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, cnbc.com