Sunita Somvanshi
Qatar Airways has ordered up to 210 Boeing widebody jets worth about $96 billion, breaking multiple industry records. The deal includes 130 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 30 Boeing 777-9 planes, with options for 50 more aircraft.
This marks Boeing’s largest-ever widebody order and the biggest purchase in Qatar Airways’ history. The massive agreement will support approximately 154,000 U.S. jobs annually, totaling over 1 million jobs during the course of production and delivery.
US President Donald Trump and Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attended the signing ceremony on May 14, 2025, highlighting the deal’s importance to both countries.
“This is a critical next step as we invest in the cleanest, youngest and most efficient fleet in global aviation,” said Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, Qatar Airways’ CEO. “We’re not simply chasing scale; we’re building strength.”
The timing couldn’t be better for Qatar Airways, which just reported a record $2.15 billion profit for 2024/25 – up 28% from last year.
Along with the planes, Qatar Airways ordered over 400 GE Aerospace engines: 60 GE9X engines for the 777-9s and 260 GEnx engines for the 787s. This engine deal is GE Aerospace’s largest ever for widebody aircraft.
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Both new aircraft models cut fuel use and emissions by 25% compared to older planes, helping Qatar Airways work toward its 2050 zero-emissions goal.
Interestingly, Qatar Airways announced on May 23 that it’s canceling a previous order for 25 Boeing 737 MAX 10 planes. Instead, the airline plans to buy Airbus A321XLR jets for its single-aisle needs, balancing its fleet between both manufacturers.
This deal gives Boeing a much-needed boost after a difficult year. In 2024, Boeing’s orders dropped 60% following problems with the 737 MAX and a lengthy strike by machinists.
Qatar Airways expects to start receiving these new planes around May 2029. The airline, which has won Skytrax’s “World’s Best Airline” award eight times, already flies more than 150 Boeing aircraft and will become the Middle East’s largest 787 Dreamliner operator after this order.
This historic purchase not only strengthens ties between Qatar Airways and Boeing but also shows strong confidence in Boeing’s planes when the company is working to rebuild its reputation.
