Qatar Airways (QR, Doha Hamad International) has announced the signing of several commitments with Boeing (BOE, Washington National) encompassing a total of up to 100 aircraft.
In the first instance, the Qatari carrier has committed to thirty B787-9s and ten B777-300(ER)s while in the second, it has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for up to sixty B737 MAX 8s.
Should the LOI be firmed, it will be the first time Qatar Airways has acquired narrowbody aircraft from the Americans. Until now, its narrowbody fleet has relied on the A320 Family from Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac). However, recent shortcomings in the A320neo's performance, attributed to teething problems with the PW1100G powerplant, have seen several orders cancelled.
As it stands, Qatar Airways' Boeing firm order backlog now numbers 105 aircraft inclusive of sixty B777Xs.
