Qatar State owned carrier Qatar Airways has signed a deal to purchase jets from US manufacturer Boeing during U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the Gulf Arab country on Wednesday.
Trump said the deal was worth US$200 billion and included 160 jets. Trump and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani witnessed the signing ceremony in Doha.
However, as per the White House, Boeing and GE Aerospace secured a $96 billion agreement to sell Qatar Airways up to 210 aircraft.
White House Brief:
"The following represent just a few of the many groundbreaking deals secured in Qatar: Boeing and GE Aerospace secured a landmark order from Qatar Airways, a $96 billion agreement to acquire up to 210 American-made Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777X aircraft powered by GE Aerospace engines. This is Boeing’s largest-ever widebody order and largest-ever 787 order."
"This historic agreement will support 154,000 U.S. jobs annually, totaling over 1 million jobs in the United States during the course of production and delivery of this deal."
The deal, that could be a blessing for the Boeing company, yet to post a profit since 2018, was signed during Trump’s second stop on a tour of Gulf states after he struck a string of deals with Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
The aircraft purchase was one of several agreements finalized between the United States and Qatar, including expanded cooperation in defense.
Trump said Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, who signed the deal with Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer next to Trump and the Qatari emir, told him
“it’s the largest order of jets in the history of Boeing, that’s good”.
Trump added:
“It’s over US$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.”
It’s not clear which Boeing aircraft models would be part of the deal and whether the orders from Qatar are firm, which require a deposit and several contractual obligations, or are options.
The White House said in a fact sheet that the deal will support 154,000 U.S. jobs annually and more than 1 million total domestic jobs over the course of production and delivery of the planes.
This development is taking place amid news of President Trump’s acceptance of Qatar’s offer to gift the U.S. a luxury B747 Jumbo Jet that may act as the interim Air Force One.
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