Qatar Airways (QR, Doha Hamad International) has placed an order with Boeing (BOE, Washington National) for ten B777-8Xs and four B777-Fs, valued at USD4.8 billion at list prices. The former adds to a firm order the Qatari carrier placed with the Americans in July last year for 100 B777-9Xs (including purchase rights for an additional fifty B777-9Xs).
"With the addition of these 777-8X to the 50 777-9X already on order, we are confident of continuing the tremendous legacy of the 777," Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al Baker said. "The order for four B777 Freighters underpins the value that this airplane has also brought to our rapidly growing cargo operations. Qatar Airways Cargo is an integral part of the Qatar Airways Group and we look forward to enhancing the existing fleet with next-generation aircraft."
Design of the 777X - which includes the B777-8X and the B777-9X - is underway and production is set to begin in 2017, with first delivery targeted for 2020.
At present, Qatar Airways operates nine B777-200(LR)s, twenty-eight B777-300(ER)s, and eight B777(F)s.
