Boeing inks Qatar Airways plane deal
Boeing and Qatar Airways have announced a landmark deal for the Middle Eastern airline to purchase up to 210 jets, marking Boeing’s largest-ever order of widebody aircraft.
This historic order includes 130 of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliners and 30 of its highly anticipated 777-9s, with options for an additional 50 aircraft, as stated in a joint press release by the two companies.
Qatar Airways has also inked an agreement with GE Aerospace for over 400 engines to power the newly acquired Boeing planes, according to another joint release.
The procurement of widebody aircraft engines represents the largest deal in GE Aerospace’s history, the release noted.
The agreement between Boeing and Qatar Airways was reached during President Donald Trump’s state visit with the emir of Qatar as part of his tour of the Middle East.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg joined Trump at the Amiri Diwan in Doha for the signing ceremony.
Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer expressed, “This is a crucial step for Qatar Airways as we invest in the cleanest, most efficient fleet in global aviation, to better serve our passengers and connect them to the world.”
Stephanie Pope, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, highlighted that the deal “solidifies Qatar Airways’ future fleet with our market-leading widebody airplane family at its core.”
The 777-9, a 426-seat twin-engine aircraft, is part of Boeing’s 777X series, which is yet to receive FAA certification and produce deliveries.
The White House valued the plane deal at $96 billion, projecting support for thousands of U.S. jobs annually.
While the White House estimated over 150,000 jobs, Boeing and Qatar Airways suggested the deal would create around 400,000 jobs in the U.S.
Senator Lindsey Graham hailed the agreement as “a gamechanger” that would benefit South Carolina and Boeing, with the new planes set to be assembled at Boeing’s Charleston facility.
The deal would nearly double Qatar Airways’ fleet of 233 aircraft and could bring attention to Qatar’s offer to gift the U.S. a luxury 747 jet for the new Air Force One.
Democrats have criticized the move, while some Republican allies of Trump have also expressed concerns about the gift.
— CNBC’s Michele Luhn contributed to this report.
