State-owned airline Qatar Airways has signed a contract to buy 210 aircraft from US manufacturer Boeing, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s visit to Qatar as part of its Gulf Region tour.
Trump and Qatar chief Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani witnessed the signing ceremony in Doha on Wednesday. The White House said the deal for the Boeing 777X and 787 planes with GE aerospace engines is worth $96 billion.
“It’s the biggest order of jets in Boeing’s history. That’s a good thing,” said Kelly Ortberg, CEO of Boeing, who has signed a deal with Badr Mohammed Al Meer, the CEO of Qatar Airways, next to Trump and Emil.
Trump initially said the deal was worth more than $200 million and was 160 planes.
The White House also said the agreement signed by the US and Qatar would “create economic exchanges worth at least $1.2 trillion.”
The sale is boosting Boeing and its biggest engine suppliers when a large version of the rival Airbus A350 with a Rolls-Royce engine is struggling with maintenance issues due to operations in the world’s hottest climate, including the Gulf region.
Boeing shares rose 0.9% in New York, while GE Aerospace stocks rose 0.1%.
In the 787s, Qatar chose the Genx engine of GE Aerospace, rather than the Rolls-Royce Torrent 1000, according to the administration. The GE Aerospace GE9X is the only engine option on the 777X.
Larry Culp, the company’s CEO, said in a statement.
Faisal Al-Mudahka, editor-in-chief of the Gulf Times, said the purchase of Boeing Airlines Qatar Airways was “win-win.”
As one of the world’s top airlines with a growing market, Qatar Airways is currently in demand more than supply and will need a fleet, he said.
“I think Donald Trump and Qatar know how to package things up to bring political and economic benefits.”
Trump’s visit to Qatar was the second destination on his Gulf tour after his first stop in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he made a surprise announcement about lifting sanctions in Syria and later met the country’s president, Ahmed Alshara.
Trump is to land at his third and final stop for a one-day visit in the UAE on Thursday.
I haven’t mentioned Gaza
Qatar Emil said the two leaders had a “great” hours of discussion covering a variety of issues. “After signing these documents, I think we’ll go to a different level of relationship,” he said.
Trump thanked Emil and said it was a “very interesting few hours” to discuss topics such as the Russian-Ukraine War, Iran and trade relations.
However, neither leader was mentioned in Israel’s war with Gaza.
Omar Rahman, a fellow of the Middle East’s Council of World Affairs, said the fact that Gaza was not mentioned led him to believe that the argument was “ongoing.”
“There are Israelis when it comes to Gaza. Trump can put pressure on Israelis on the issue of ceasefires. But you’re still the Israelis making the decision.
Steve Witkoff, a US Middle Eastern envoy in Doha, responded to a question about whether a discussion about Gaza was underway, by Al Jazeera’s diplomatic editor James Bayes, who said, “We are making progress.”
“His tone was pretty speaking. He was very positive,” Bayes said. “When I asked him if it was about the delivery of aid and the ceasefire, he said, “We’re making progress in all aspects.” ”
“He said he hopes there will be a positive announcement ‘quickly’ but he won’t show what that means,” Bayes added.