Qatar Airways (QR, Doha Hamad International) is interested in taking early delivery of its first B777-9s should Boeing (BOE, Washington National) have the capacity to do so. As one of the type's launch operators, Qatar Airways has firm orders for fifty with options for an additional fifty.
Boeing had originally indicated that the first of the upgraded B777 Family twinjets would deliver from 2020 onwards. However, space production capacity could see that date brought forward to late 2019.
"We have already told Boeing that as they are bringing ahead the (777-)9X deliveries, we would be interested," Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Akbar al Baker told Reuters in a statement. "The 777-9X programme is ahead of schedule and we have no problem if they want to bring our deliveries ahead."
Boeing specifications show the B777-9 will seat 400-425 passengers and will have a maximum range of 7,600 nautical miles (14,075 km).
