SEATTLE, Oct. 11 (UPI) — Boeing Corp. announced Qatar Airways will purchase up to $18.6 billion of its wide-body aircraft, among the largest orders in the manufacturer’s history.
In the largest order ever placed by Qatar Airways, it agreed to purchase 30 787-9 Dreamliners and 10 777-300 ER planes, the long-fuselage version of the 777, with total list prices of $11.7 billion; it also arranged an option to buy 60 737 MAX 8 planes, the long-fuselage variant of the Boeing 737 readied for service in 2017, for $6.9 billion at list prices.
The sale comes at a time when orders for wide-body planes have decreased, and Qatar Airways, Qatar’s state-owned carrier, has been frustrated by delivery and engine problems of Airbus, Boeing’s major competitor. Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker has described his company’s relationship as “strained.”
Al Baker said the deal had no connection to the approval of the sale of Boeing-made F-15 fighter planes to Qatar. It was suggested the passenger aircraft deal was delayed until there were assurances Congress would approve the sale of the F-15s, the BBC reported.
“We don’t relate anything to anything,” Al Baker said Friday in reference to the connection. “Nothing is attached to anything.”
