Qatar Airways orders 34 777X freighters, with option for 16 more.

Aviación al Día

3 years ago

Qatar Airways on Monday ordered 34 of Boeing’s new 777X cargo planes, with an option for 16 more, becoming the first airline to buy the aircraft in a deal valued at more than $20 billion.

The company, which made the deal official during a visit by the Emir of Qatar to the White House, also signed a letter of intent for 25 737-10 aircraft and said it was willing to order up to 50 737 MAXs in total, AFP reported.

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The announcement is a setback for Airbus, which last summer launched a cargo version of its A350 in hopes of competing with Boeing.

But Airbus is in open conflict with Qatar Airways, which blames it for defects in its A350 airliners.

The order for 50 aircraft “represents two full years on the production line,” Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun said at the signing ceremony.

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The cargo version of the 777X “will fill an important need in the supply chain,” he stressed.

With the launch of a cargo version of the 777X, Boeing intends to capitalize on the current boom in air freight, driven by the rise of online shopping and shipping congestion.

Featuring advanced technology from the new 777X family and the proven performance of the market-leading 777 Freighter, the 777-8 Freighter will be the largest, longest-range and most capable twin-engine freighter in the industry. With payload capacity nearly identical to the 747-400 Freighter and a 25% improvement in fuel efficiency, emissions and operating costs, the 777-8 Freighter will enable a more sustainable and profitable business for operators.