Qatar Airways has signed a landmark agreement to purchase up to 210 widebody aircraft from Boeing, in a deal valued at $96 billion.
The announcement was made during U.S. President Donald Trump’s official visit to Qatar and marks one of the largest commercial aircraft deals in Boeing’s history.
The agreement, formalised in Doha, includes 160 firm orders – comprising 130 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 30 Boeing 777X aircraft – with options for an additional 50 aircraft. The deal also includes a record engine order with GE Aerospace, Boeing’s principal engine partner, securing contracts for 400 engines to power the new fleet.
President Trump attended the signing ceremony alongside Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, and Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer. The ceremony highlighted Washington’s ongoing commercial engagement in the Gulf and provided a high-profile backdrop for Boeing’s latest strategic gain in the long-haul aviation market.
Speaking during the event, President Trump noted that Ortberg had described the transaction as the largest single jet order in Boeing’s history. The agreement follows Trump’s earlier stop in Saudi Arabia, where a number of bilateral commercial and defence agreements were announced.
For Boeing, the deal marks a significant endorsement of its widebody aircraft, particularly at a time when the manufacturer is seeking to consolidate its position in the face of ongoing delays to the 777X programme. Originally scheduled for entry into service in 2020, the aircraft is now expected to begin deliveries in 2026. Qatar Airways, a launch customer for the 777X, already holds existing orders for 94 of the type. Its regional rival Emirates currently has orders for 205.
The decision by Qatar Airways to power its 787s with GE Aerospace’s GEnx engines, rather than the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000, represents a setback for the British engine manufacturer. For the 777X, GE Aerospace’s GE9X remains the sole engine option. The combined engine order is the largest ever placed with GE Aerospace, according to the company’s CEO Larry Culp.
The selection of GE engines also underscores the operational challenges that Rolls-Royce has faced with its Trent engines in hot and dusty climates. In recent years, the Rolls-Royce-powered Airbus A350, particularly the larger variants, has encountered service issues in the Gulf region, which industry analysts believe contributed to Qatar Airways’ decision to favour Boeing and GE in this procurement.
Boeing’s share price rose 0.6% following the announcement, while GE Aerospace stock increased by 0.7% in New York trading. The market reaction reflected confidence in the long-term implications of the deal, despite the aircraft being scheduled for delivery over the coming decade.
As of 30 April 2025, Boeing’s total order book stood at 521 for the 777X and 828 for the 787, according to company data. The new agreement with Qatar Airways is expected to reinforce the planemaker’s production pipeline well into the 2030s.
Qatar Airways has consistently positioned itself as one of the world’s leading long-haul carriers, with a strategic emphasis on fleet modernisation and operational efficiency. Speaking earlier this year, CEO Badr Al-Meer had indicated that the airline was preparing a major widebody order to address projected demand and retire ageing aircraft.
The deal adds further momentum to Boeing’s commercial recovery strategy and signals Qatar’s ongoing commitment to maintaining one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in global aviation. It also places additional pressure on Airbus, Boeing’s European rival, which has faced a slowdown in large widebody sales to Gulf carriers in recent years.
The announcement comes amid broader diplomatic and commercial efforts by the United States to strengthen economic ties with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. President Trump’s visit to Qatar, part of a broader regional tour, is being viewed as a platform to deepen trade relations and promote American industry.
With deliveries of the 787s expected to begin within the next few years, and the 777X entering service no earlier than 2026, the full impact of the deal on Qatar Airways’ operations will unfold over the medium to long term. Nevertheless, the agreement marks a decisive moment in the competitive dynamics of global aviation, particularly in the Middle East.
