The deal, valued at $96 billion according to the White House, includes Boeing's 777X and 787 Dreamliner models powered by GE Aerospace engines.
The agreement was formalised at a signing ceremony in Doha attended by Trump, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, and Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer.
Trump, who is on a regional tour of Gulf states, hailed the deal as 'the largest jet order in Boeing's history.'
While the exact breakdown of the aircraft types and the number of firm versus optional orders remains unclear, the deal represents a significant commitment from Qatar Airways, which already operates one of the world's largest fleets of Boeing widebody jets.
Qatar Airways has continued to expand its global footprint in recent years. In October 2021, the airline signed a codeshare agreement with RwandAir, deepening its presence in Africa and strengthening connectivity between Kigali and global destinations.
The move is also a blow to rival Airbus, whose A350 model has struggled in the Gulf's hot climate, with ongoing maintenance issues related to Rolls-Royce engines.
Qatar opted for GE Aerospace's GEnx engines for the 787s and the GE9X for the 777X, the only engine currently certified for that aircraft. GE Aerospace described the deal as its largest-ever widebody engine agreement.
The timing of the announcement highlights the strategic importance of the deal for both Trump and Boeing. For Trump, it adds to a series of economic announcements linked to his Gulf tour, which also included trade agreements with Saudi Arabia.
For Boeing, the order comes at a time when the company is working to recover from significant setbacks, including manufacturing delays, safety concerns, and a lengthy strike by workers that affected output.
The Qatar Airways deal is also expected to support an estimated 154,000 U.S. jobs annually throughout the production cycle, according to the White House.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/business/article/qatar-airways-inks-210-jet-deal-with-boeing-during-trump-visit
