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Qatar’s state-operated airline has announced plans to purchase up to 210 Boeing aircraft in a record-breaking deal signed during President Trump’s visit to the Gulf.
Some shit you should know before you read: It’s no secret that Boeing has had a rough couple of years. The company has been under intense regulatory scrutiny following multiple safety incidents and probes into the company’s operations. These issues triggered a major leadership shakeup in 2024. At the same time, Boeing is facing growing competition from Airbus, whose A320neo family has consistently outpaced Boeing’s 737 MAX in global orders—Airbus now holds 63% of the global narrow-body backlog compared to Boeing’s 37%, according to Cirium. Globally, Boeing’s strongest demand outside the US comes from Asia-Pacific, which is projected to account for over 40% of total global aircraft deliveries through 2042. The Middle East follows, with around 3,000 expected deliveries, primarily widebody aircraft for long-haul carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways.
What’s going on now: During his first day in Qatar, President Trump and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani oversaw the signing of a historic aviation deal between Qatar Airways and Boeing, marking what Trump described as “the largest order of jets in the history of Boeing.” The agreement includes the purchase of up to 210 Boeing widebody aircraft, comprised of 130 787 Dreamliners, 30 777X jets, and options for an additional 50 aircraft. The ceremonial signing took place at the Qatari Royal Court, with Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg and Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer inking the deal.
Trump touted the agreement, saying, “It’s over $200 billion but 160 in terms of the jets, that’s fantastic. So that’s a record, Kelly, and congratulations to Boeing. Get those planes out there, get them out there.” Despite Trump’s public claim that the order was worth over $200 billion, the White House fact sheet placed the value at $96 billion.
In a statement, Qatar’s Emir said, “After signing these documents, we are going to another level of relationship,” signaling the strategic and economic importance of the transaction beyond aviation.
