Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025

Qatar seals Boeing freighter deal with surprise 737 order

Qatar seals Boeing freighter deal with surprise 737 order

Qatar Airways handed Boeing Co (BA.N) a record launch order for 34 new 777X freighters and added at least 25 Boeing 737 MAX jets on Monday in a $30 billion-plus package during a Washington diplomatic visit, deepening U.S. economic links to the Gulf.

The deal is a boost for Boeing at a time when the U.S. planemaker is battling industrial and financial constraints, and reflects upheaval in the jet market after Qatar Airways engaged in a contractual and safety dispute with Europe's Airbus SE (AIR.PA).

Boeing shares rose almost 5% after the freighter order was unexpectedly topped up by an order for the Boeing 737 MAX. The deal was timed to coincide with a visit to Washington by Qatar's emir in which the United States hailed the Gulf state as a major ally.

That followed days of frantic negotiations after Airbus revoked an order for 50 competing A321neo aircraft as part of a heated dispute with Qatar Airways over flaws in a larger jet.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said negotiators had "lost a lot of sleep" in the intervening two weeks and took a swipe at Airbus.

"We like to build long-term relationships with trusted partners where both parties work together towards a common purpose," he told a White House signing ceremony attended by leaders from Boeing and engine maker General Electric Co .

Airbus declined comment.

The provisional order for up to 50 of the 737-10, the largest member of the MAX family, makes Monday's deal a potential 100-plane package including options for later add-ons. Reuters reported the 737 MAX deal earlier on Monday.

The cargo part of the deal represents the first order for a freighter version of the world's largest twin-engine passenger plane, the 777X, whose entry to service has been pushed back by more than three years to late 2023 or beyond.

Boeing is banking on sales of the huge freighter to shore up its leadership of the cargo market and head off a recent challenge from Airbus, with a freighter version of its A350.

"(The 777X) will be an absolute world-beater," Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun said at Monday's signing ceremony.

ORDER CONVERSIONS


Boeing agreed to convert a third of Qatar's existing order for 60 777X passenger planes, for which there is currently less demand, to freighters in order to win the order.

Speaking on the sidelines of high-level meetings on energy security amid the Ukraine crisis, Al Baker trumpeted support for the U.S. economy from Qatar Airways, which has faced trade complaints from U.S. carriers over alleged subsidies.

"I am especially pleased that the aircraft order will further emphasise Qatar Airways' support for the U.S. economy and U.S. jobs," he said.

For Boeing, the deal marks a respite from a recent safety crisis over the MAX and delays with the 777X passenger jet and 787 Dreamliner, and a chance to win points for its own economic contribution after intense regulatory and political scrutiny.

Boeing said the freighter order would sustain more than 35,000 U.S. jobs with an annual economic impact of $2.6 billion.

Boeing has dominated air freight for years through its 767, 777 and 747 cargo jets, though it will be urgently pressing for more orders for the new freighter flagship.

About half of global cargo by value travels by air, and in turn half of that usually goes in the belly of passenger planes.

During the pandemic, many airlines have been forced to park unused passenger jets, driving up demand for cargo space on dedicated freighters at a time when e-commerce has been a lifeline for many during COVID-19 lockdowns.

But economists warn the trends could start to unravel as the pandemic eases.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Spotify’s Strange Move: The Feature Nobody Asked For – Returns
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
×