Qatar Airways Announces $2.16 Billion Boeing Order

Doha, September 26 (QNA) - Qatar Airways has announced an order for two Boeing 747-8 Freighters and four 777-300ERs, valued at $2.16 billion at list prices. The order, a sign of the airlines continued expansion, adds to the airlines current fleet of nearly 100 Boeing widebody airplanes and its more than 100 additional Boeing aircraft on order. The announcement was made at a delivery ceremony in Everett in Washington, where the airline also received the first of its 747-8 Freighters. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said that Qatar Airways operates one of the youngest and fastest-growing fleets in the sky, and Boeing unceasingly proves to be a valuable partner to Qatar Airways in providing the quality aircraft that make it the worlds third largest international cargo carrier, expressing appreciation of the enduring partnership with Boeing, as it is key to future growth. For his part, Boeing Commercial Airplanes Chief Executive Officer Kevin McAllister expressed pride of the strong, enduring and growing partnership with Qatar Airways and truly appreciated the value its business has brought to Boeing, its employees, suppliers and communities. "As one of the worlds largest international cargo carriers, it is heartening that Qatar Airways has selected the 747-8 Freighter to meet its growing cargo operations and to see the important role the 777-300ER continues to play in its long-haul fleet," he said. There have been many milestones in Qatar Airways relationship with Boeing, and this announcement is the latest development in this strong relationship. Qatar Airways was the first airline to operate the 787 in the Middle East, is a launch customer for the 777X, and has twenty 737 MAX airplanes on order. In 2016 the airline placed a record $11.7 billion order from Boeing for 30 B787-9 Dreamliners and 10 777-300ERs. The 747-8 Freighter gives cargo operators the lowest operating costs and best economics of any large freighter airplane while providing enhanced environmental performance. It is optimized to provide greater revenue cargo-carrying capability than the 747-400, offering 16 per cent more cargo volume while keeping its unique nose door. Qatar Airways has a host of exciting new destinations planned for the remainder of this year and 2018, including Canberra, Australia; Chiang Mai, Thailand and Mombasa, Kenya, to name just a few. The national carrier of the State of Qatar is one of the fastest-growing airlines operating one of the youngest fleets in the world. Now in its twentieth year of operations, Qatar Airways has a modern fleet of 200 aircraft flying to business and leisure destinations across six continents. (QNA)