Qatar Airways inks deal for up to 210 Boeing jets during Trump visit

Qatar Airways Signs Landmark $96 Billion Deal with Boeing for Up to 210 Widebody Jets

During President Donald Trump’s visit to Qatar on Wednesday, Qatar Airways signed a landmark agreement to purchase up to 210 widebody aircraft from Boeing, marking a major achievement for the U.S. aerospace manufacturer. The deal, valued at $96 billion according to the White House, includes Boeing’s latest 777X and 787 jets powered by GE Aerospace engines. The agreement is viewed as a major victory for Boeing during Trump’s high-profile Middle East tour, even if deliveries won’t happen for several years.

Additionally, this transaction gives Boeing and GE Aerospace a much-needed boost, particularly as Airbus struggles with its A350 aircraft that utilize Rolls-Royce engines, which have had maintenance issues when used in the Gulf region’s severe heat. This preference is demonstrated by Qatar Airways’ choice to outfit its 787 fleet with GE’s GEnx engines rather than Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. GE Aerospace’s position is further strengthened by the fact that the new 777X is powered only by the GE9X engine. The agreement is the biggest widebody engine contract in GE Aerospace’s history, according to CEO Larry Culp.
The signing ceremony included key figures such as President Trump, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, and Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer. The White House later confirmed that the agreement comprises up to 210 jets valued at $96 billion, however President Trump initially said the order included 160 aircraft worth $200 billion.

Still in development, the 777X program is already six years behind schedule, with deliveries anticipated to start in 2026. Qatar Airways already holds orders for 94 of these jets, while rival Emirates has 205 on order. Both airlines were early customers when Boeing launched the 777X in 2013.

As of late April, Boeing’s backlog included 521 orders for the 777X and 828 for the 787. However, specifics on how many of each aircraft Qatar ordered in this latest deal remain undisclosed, as does whether the orders are firm commitments requiring deposits or merely options. The financial value of the agreement is also uncertain, since Boeing no longer publicly discloses catalog prices, and airlines typically receive substantial discounts on large bulk purchases.

Neither Boeing nor Qatar Airways immediately provided comments on the deal. Earlier in March, Qatar Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer Thierry Antinori had indicated plans for a substantial widebody aircraft order to support the airline’s long-term expansion strategy.

This deal forms part of a broader pattern of significant U.S. aerospace agreements signed during President Trump’s Gulf tour, which included multiple deals with Saudi Arabia just days earlier. The transaction is expected to strengthen Boeing’s market position in the Middle East and contribute positively to both companies’ future growth prospects.