Qatar Airways Places Record-Breaking $96 Billion Boeing Order

On May 14, 2025, Qatar Airways made a record-breaking aircraft order. It announced the largest widebody aircraft deal in Boeing’s history, and the biggest engine order ever for GE Aerospace.

This move will shape its fleet and product for decades to come.

Qatar Airways has placed an order worth about $96 billion (at list prices) for up to 210 Boeing widebody aircraft, comprising 130 787 Dreamliners and 30 777-9s, with options for an additional 50 jets. This agreement marks the largest widebody aircraft order in Boeing's history and positions Qatar Airways as the largest Dreamliner operator in the Middle East.

For context, Emirates’ famous 2013 777X order was 150 aircraft, so Qatar just one-upped its top Golf competitor.

Complementing this, the airline has signed a record-breaking agreement with GE Aerospace for over 400 engines, including 60 GE9X and 260 GEnx engines, to power its new fleet. This is the largest widebody engine purchase in GE Aerospace's history. This is a major win for GE, especially since Qatar has historically leaned on Rolls-Royce for its Airbus fleet. Since GE swept this order speaks volumes, and you can bet Rolls-Royce isn’t thrilled.

Qatar Airways Group CEO Engr. Badr Al-Meer called this the “largest aircraft order in our history” and emphasized it’s about “building strength, not just scale.” The airline has had two years of record performance, and this order sets them up to handle growing demand while replacing older aircraft like the A380 and 777-300ER.

The 787s will help expand the network, especially to secondary cities. And the 777-9s will likely become Qatar’s flagship jets, taking over from the soon-to-be-retired A380s.

Oh, and he teased that the new 777Xs might debut the next-gen Qsuite business class.

Let’s zoom out a bit.

For Boeing, this is a shot in the arm. After years of 787 delays and 777X certification woes, not to mention losing favor with Middle East carriers, this deal helps cement Boeing’s widebody programs into the next decade.

For GE, this is a windfall. Besides selling engines, GE locks in decades of lucrative maintenance contracts. Qatar also strengthens ties with U.S. industry, politically relevant, as this deal reportedly got the White House stamp of approval.

For Airbus, this stings. Qatar and Airbus had a high-profile spat over A350 paint defects that led to lawsuits and canceled A321neo orders. While they’ve patched things up, Qatar’s pivot to Boeing here is telling.

This massive investment is a strategic move by Qatar Airways to modernize its fleet with more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly aircraft. The 787 Dreamliner and 777-9 are known for their advanced technology and improved fuel efficiency, aligning with the airline's sustainability goals.

And, it sends a message. Emirates, Saudi Arabia’s new carriers, and even Lufthansa and United have all made big widebody moves recently. Qatar clearly doesn’t want to be outdone.

And while some airlines split orders between Airbus and Boeing, Qatar went all-in on Boeing this time. That speaks to confidence, or leverage. My guess is Qatar got a great deal, early delivery slots, and maybe even a few political sweeteners.

The announcement of this deal coincided with President Donald Trump's visit to Qatar, highlighting the strengthening economic ties between the two nations. The agreement is expected to support approximately 154,000 U.S. jobs annually, totaling over a million jobs during the production and delivery phases.

Trump also got to accept his 747 gift in person here.

Ordering 160 widebodies outright, let alone 210 if options are exercised, is huge. This makes Qatar one of Boeing’s most important customers globally, and it reinforces their strategy of operating a young, fuel-efficient, long-haul fleet.

I suspect these deliveries will stretch well into the 2030s, giving Qatar room to flex based on demand, aircraft performance, or fleet changes. Don’t be surprised if some of these jets end up replacing older 787s or A350s by the time they arrive.

And if you’re a passenger, expect more 787s and 777-9s, more consistent product offerings, and probably some pretty stunning new cabins. I, for one, can’t wait to see Qsuite 2.0.

Qatar Airways just made aviation history with the largest widebody aircraft and engine order ever. The decision is a long-term bet on global travel, sustainability, and premium service.

Boeing gets production stability, GE gets a maintenance goldmine, and Qatar Airways locks in the hardware it needs to stay at the top of the game. It's a bold move, and one that’s likely to become a mainstay in aviation for decades.

This move also signals a broader trend in the aviation industry, where airlines are investing in next-generation aircraft to meet evolving passenger expectations and environmental standards.