Qatar Airways to buy 100 Boeing airplanes

(Washington) – Qatar Airways has agreed to purchase as many as 100 Boeing airplanes for up to $18.6 billion, the companies jointly announced.

Qatar will buy 30 of the new- generation Boeing 787 and 10 Boeing 777, both widebody aircraft, for $11.7bn. Qatar Airways also signed a letter of intent to purchase up to 60 of the narrow-body Boeing 737 valued at about $6.9bn.

Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al-Baker said that the order was one of the largest in the country’s history and would help meet growing demand for air travel.

Al-Baker acknowledged the decision to go with Boeing also was due to “ongoing issues” with Boeing rival Airbus.

Al-Baker in April publicly blasted Airbus over delays in deliveries of the single- aisle Airbus A320neo due to problems with its engine. In June, Qatar Airways cancelled an order for one of the planes.