Qatar Airways commits to double order for Boeing 777-9X aircraft

The Boeing 777X will be introduced by the end of the decade to follow the current 777, a long-range wide-body jet that boasts the world’s largest commercial engine.

Boeing, which lagged behind Airbus order haul on the first two days of the Farnborough Airshow, bounced back with a commitment from Qatar Airways to double planned purchases of the 777-9X model.

Qatar Airways said it wants to buy an additional 50 of the largest twin-engine model, after firming up a deal for the same number announced at the Dubai expo in November. The value of the follow-up commitment, which isn't firm, is US$18.9 billion, making it the single biggest deal yet at this year's show.

Airbus and Boeing are facing off at the air show south of London, with an early advantage to the European manufacturer after it introduced an updated version of its A330 wide-body with more fuel-efficient engines. Both companies have mainly pulled in deals from leasing firms, with Qatar Airways and AirAsia Group yesterday among the few airline customers.

“This represents the largest aircraft order in our history for a single aircraft type,” Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker said in a press conference Wednesday. “The 777s we currently have form the backbone of our fleet.”

The 777X will be introduced by the end of the decade to follow the current 777, a long-range wide-body jet that boasts the world’s largest commercial engine. Airbus has positioned its A350-1000 against the 777, though the aircraft has not won any orders or commitments so far at the air show.

"This has been a process that has been going on for some time," Ray Conner, chief executive of Boeing's commercial airplanes unit, said of negotiations with Qatar.

Qatar will start firming up options once deliveries begin in 2020, Mr Al Baker said. The carrier needs the new planes both to replace aging models in its own fleet, as well as for its leasing business Qatar Aviation Lease.

“We want to expand that business, because this is also a profit center for the airline,” Al-Baker said of aircraft rental operations. “We could compete with leasing companies,” he said in an interview. “Wherever they require airplanes, we will lease.”

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