State-owned carrier Qatar Airways has penned a deal to acquire 210 planes from United States builder Boeing, on the occasion of President Donald Trump’s visit to Qatar as part of his Gulf tour.
Trump and Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, were present at the signing ceremony on Wednesday in Doha. The White House explained that the Boeing 777X and 787 aircraft deal with GE Aerospace engines was worth $96bn.
Trump explained that Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, who signed the agreement with Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al Meer alongside Trump and the emir, briefed him: “It’s the largest order of jets in the history of Boeing. That’s good.”
Trump had originally claimed the agreement was more than $200bn and for 160 aircraft, before the White House released new figures following his remarks.
The White House added that the deals between the US and Qatar would “spur an economic exchange of at least $1.2 trillion”.
The deal is also good news for Boeing and its largest engine maker during a period when big versions of competitor Airbus’ A350, fitted with Rolls-Royce engines, have encountered maintenance issues from flying in the globe’s hottest regions, including the Gulf states.
Boeing stock gained 0.9 percent in New York, while GE Aerospace stock gained 0.1 percent.
For the 787s, Qatar took the option of GE Aerospace’s GEnx engines over Rolls-Royce’s Trent 1000, the administration said. GE Aerospace’s GE9X is sole engine choice for the 777X.
It is GE Aerospace’s biggest widebody engine contract, said the company’s CEO Larry Culp in a statement.
The purchase of Boeing planes by Qatar Airways is a “win-win,” said Faisal al-Mudahka, editor-in-chief of the Gulf Times.
Qatar Airways, one of the world’s best airlines with an expanding market, has more demand than supply currently and will have to need the fleet, he said.
“I think Donald Trump and Qatar understand how to present things in a way to make political victories and economic victories.
Trump’s Qatar stop is the second leg of his Gulf tour, following an earlier stop in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he unexpectedly announced an easing of sanctions on Syria and then held talks with the country’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Trump is scheduled to arrive in a third and last leg in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday for a day visit.
No Gaza mentioned
The Qatari emir reported that the two leaders had a “great” few hours of exchange on various subjects. “I think after signing these documents, we are going to another level of relations,” he said.
Trump thanked the emir and indicated it had been a “very interesting couple of hours” of conversation covering subjects such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Iran and trade. Israel’s war against Gaza, however, was not covered by either of the leaders.Omar Rahman, a Middle East Council on Global Affairs fellow, stated the absence of Gaza in the conversation left him with the impression the talk is “ongoing”.
“When you talk about Gaza, you have the Israelis there too. When it comes to the issue of a ceasefire, Trump can also pressure the Israelis, … but you still have the Israelis there making the decisions. It is going to be a bit more challenging to sort out,” he said in an interview with Al Jazeera.
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, also present in Doha, replied “we’re making progress” to a question by Al Jazeera Diplomatic Editor James Bays on whether negotiations on Gaza were underway.
“His tone was quite revealing. He was extremely upbeat,” Bays reported. “When I asked him if that was for aid deliveries or a ceasefire, he replied, ‘We’re making progress on all fronts.'”
“He said he hopes there would be a good news ‘soon’, but we have no idea what that could imply,” Bays added.