Boeing secures its 'largest' jet order from Qatar Airways during Trump visit

The $96 billion deal is for up to 210 787 Dreamliners and 777X aircraft, powered by GE Aerospace engines

Boeing, the largest US exporter of manufactured goods, received a much-needed boost from the Qatar Airways aircraft order. Photo: Qatar Airways

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Qatar Airways has signed an agreement to buy up to 210 Boeing aircraft in a deal that US President Donald Trump said is the "largest" in the US plane maker's history.

The deal for 787 Dreamliners and 777X widebody planes, part of wider aviation and defence agreements between the two countries, was signed by Qatar Airways chief executive Badr Al Meer and Boeing chief executive Kelly Ortberg during Mr Trump's visit to Doha on Wednesday.

"Kelly ... congratulations to Boeing. Get those planes out there. Get them out there," Mr Trump said.

The White House later said that the agreement for the 787 Dreamliners and 777X aircraft, along with jet engines by US giant GE Aerospace, was valued at $96 billion.

The "landmark" order for the aircraft and engines will create 154,000 US jobs annually, totalling more than one million jobs in the US during the course of production and delivery of the "historic" deal, the White House said.

"This is Boeing’s largest-ever widebody order and largest-ever 787 order," the White House said.

Boeing said the deal included a firm order of 160 planes - 130 787 Dreamliners and 30 777Xs. It also included options for an additional 50 787s and 777Xs.

"After two consecutive years of record-breaking commercial performance and with this historic Boeing aircraft order we're not simply chasing scale, we're building strength," Mr Al Meer said.

The building of the 787s and 777s for the order will continue into the next decade, said Stephanie Pope, president and chief executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

Qatar Airways currently operates more than 150 Boeing planes, including 777 and 787 passenger jets and 777 freighters. With this purchase, Qatar Airways will become the largest 787 Dreamliner operator in the Middle East, the statement said.

GE Aerospace said that the deal for more than 400 engines, including 60 GE9X and 260 GEnx with additional options and spares, is its largest ever for widebody turbines.

Airlines in the Gulf such as Dubai's Emirates are major buyers of widebody aircraft that help them connect intercontinental routes. Emirates airline during the Dubai Airshow in 2014 placed an order for 150 Boeing 777X aircraft valued at $56 billion at list prices, which was a record order at that time.

"Qatar Airways, like the other two big Gulf super-connectors [Emirates and Etihad Airways], has large ongoing fleet replacement and growth needs," Richard Aboulafia, managing director of Washington-based aviation consultancy AeroDynamic Advisory, told The National.

"Timing the Boeing part of these orders with President Trump’s visit was politically savvy, but it’s still the same order they’d place without the political fanfare."

Boeing, the biggest US exporter of manufactured goods, got a much-needed boost with its biggest-ever aircraft order. The commercial win comes at an opportune time for the plane-maker that had a crises-riddled year in 2024, with Mr Ortberg leading restructuring efforts during his first year on the job since his appointment in August 2024.

Boeing shares jumped to their highest levels in 15 months after Mr Trump’s announcement. The stock gained 1.2 per cent at 9.20pm UAE time.

The agreement comes as Mr Trump aims to seal corporate deals with close allies to boost his image as a successful dealmaker. The pact also comes after Mr Trump's tariffs announcements last month tested his country's global trade alliances, roiled markets, worried investors and spurred international governments to negotiate their own customised trade deals with the US.

The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar were all subject to a 10 per cent “reciprocal” tariff announced by Mr Trump last month. Economists argue the region will not be hugely affected by these levies.

Qatar Airways, a major Boeing customer, has boosted its orderbook as it expands its global route network amid strong long-haul travel demand. The airline is a major Boeing customer but also has significant Airbus fleet of narrowbody and widebody jets.

The airline is benefiting from booming demand for leisure and business trips, connecting major international destinations through its hub in Doha. Hamad International Airport, the airline's home base, in March unveiled the completion of Concourses D and E, an expansion that will increase the hub's capacity to more than 65 million passengers annually.

Trump's Gulf tour is 'coalition of capital and foreign policy'

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Mr Trump signed an agreement with Qatar to generate an economic exchange worth at least $1.2 trillion, according to the White House. The US President also announced economic deals totalling more than $243.5 billion between the US and Qatar − including the deal with Boeing and GE Aerospace.

Mr Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE this week is part of a diplomatic sweep through the region. He is due to arrive in the Emirates on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia committed to investing $600 billion in the US through a series of deals in energy, defence, technology, infrastructure and critical minerals. This included Boeing signing a $4.8 billion deal with Saudi Arabia's plane leasing company AviLease for 30 737-8 passenger aircraft. The deals were signed on Tuesday during Mr Trump's visit to Riyadh.