Qatar Airways places an order for 100 Boeing 777-9x – The largest single aircraft order in the airline’s history

Qatar Airways today announced further substantial investment in its modern and young fleet, with the largest aircraft order in its history for a single aircraft type.

At the Farnborough Air Show 2014, the airline finalised an order for 50 Boeing 777-9Xs and increased its order with an additional 50 Boeing 777-9X Purchase Rights. The aircraft is due for delivery starting from 2020. At list prices, the order is valued at around $US40 billion.

In order to support the continued growth of its Cargo business, Qatar Airways also signed a Letter of Intent to purchase an additional four Boeing 777 Freighters, with an option on another four. The combined value at list prices is $US2.4 billion.

The Chief Executive of Qatar Airways, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, commented: “It has been a year of many new beginnings for Qatar Airways, with the opening of our new home at Hamad International Airport and now these further aircraft orders for our fleet. The Boeing 777 has been a backbone of our operation and our relationship with Boeing will continue to grow and develop as we go on investing in the equipment that we value and trust. This will enable us to continue to deliver a signature 5-star service to our passengers.”

Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner added: “Qatar Airways took delivery of its first 777 a few short years ago and we are honoured to see this partnership continue to grow and strengthen. Today signifies a new chapter in our relationship with Qatar Airways’ endorsement of the 777X as well as their ongoing confidence in the value of the 777 Freighter. These orders validate the market leading role that the 777and now the 777X will continue to play in the Middle East’s passenger and cargo market.”

The 777X will introduce the latest technologies including the most advanced commercial engine ever – the GE9X by GE Aviation – and an all-new high efficiency composite wing that has a longer span than todat’s 777. The 777X family includes the 777-8X and the 777-9X, both designed to respond to market needs andcustomer preferences.

The 777-9X will be 12 percent more fuel efficient than any competing airplane. Design of the 777X is underway and production is set to begin in 2017, with first delivery targeted for 2020. To date, the 777X has accumulated 300 orders and commitments from six Boeing customers worldwide.

Qatar Airways is a key part of the Farnborough Air Show, displaying three aircraft – the Airbus A350 in Qatar Airways livery, the A320 and the 787 Dreamliner.

Qatar Airways, the State of Qatar’s national airline, has seen rapid growth in just 17 years of operation, to the point where today it is flying a modern fleet of 134 aircraft to 144 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.