Qatar Airways Places Largest Widebody Jet Order with Boeing During Trump’s Visit to Gulf

DOHA/SEATTLE: Qatar Airways and Boeing made history on Wednesday with the signing of a massive deal for 160 widebody airplanes, with an option to purchase an additional 50, during President Donald Trump’s visit to the Gulf Arab country. The firm order, valued at $96 billion according to the White House, includes Boeing’s 777X and 787 models, both powered by GE Aerospace engines. This deal marks a significant win for Trump during his high-profile visit to the region, although it will be several years before the aircrafts are delivered.

The agreement also serves as a major boost for both Boeing and GE Aerospace, as their largest engine supplier. This comes at a time when Airbus, their main competitor, has been facing maintenance issues with their A350 models, equipped with Rolls-Royce engines, in the hot climates of the Gulf region. The deal includes 160 firm orders, with 130 787s and 30 777Xs, and the option for an additional 50 of each model, according to Boeing. Following the announcement, Boeing’s shares rose 0.6% in New York and GE Aerospace’s stock gained 0.7%.

Qatar Airways has chosen GE Aerospace’s GEnx engines for their 787s, rather than Rolls-Royce’s Trent 1000, as reported by the administration. The GE9X engine is