Boeing Secures Largest Ever Widebody Airplane Order During Trump's Visit to Qatar

TMTPOST -- The Boeing Company secured a largest ever widebody airplane order from a Middle East airline during U.S. President Donald Trump』s visit to Qatar on Wednesday.

Credit：Boeing

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg signed an accord for Qatar Airways to buy up to 210 widebody aircraft. Trump, at a ceremony witnessed the signing,called the accord 「a record」 and said 「congratulations to Boeing.」  He said the U.S. and Qatar reached a deal worth more than $200 billion and included 160 jets, contradicting a fact sheet the White House later Wednesday released, stating Qatar Airways order up to 210 jets.

The White House highlighted Boeing』s deal, among economic deals totaling more than $243.5 billion between the United States and Qatar that Trump announced on Wednesday, describing it as 「an historic sale of Boeing aircraft and GE Aerospace engines to Qatar Airways.」   

「Boeing and GE Aerospace secured a landmark order from Qatar Airways, a $96 billion agreement to acquire up to 210 American-made Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777X aircraft powered by GE Aerospace engines,」 per the fact sheet. It said this is Boeing』s largest-ever widebody order and largest-ever 787 order. The agreement will support 154,000 U.S. jobs annually, totaling over 1 million jobs in the United States during the course of production and delivery of this deal, according to the White House.

Boeing shares jumped as much as 3.1% at midday when Trump announced the aircraft purchase agreement, and then pared most of gains, closing over 0.6% higher.

The order includes 130 of Boeing』s 787 Dreamliners and 30 of 777-9s, with options for up to 50 more 787 and 777X planes, Boeing said in a statement. The order is also the biggest in Qatar Airway』s history. GE Aerospace said the deal, including more than 400 engines, is its largest for widebody turbines.

"We are deeply honored that Qatar Airways has placed this record-breaking order with Boeing, one that solidifies their future fleet with our market-leading widebody airplane family at its center," said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, in a statement.

「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 that will allow us to continue to deliver our unmatched products and customer experiences,」 Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said in the statement.