Qatar Air Boosts Fleet with 20 New 777-9 Jets

Boeing and Qatar Airways have announced that the Middle Eastern airline has ordered 20 more 777-9 airplanes, which will be the world's largest and most fuel-efficient twin-engine jet. The order expands the carrier's 777X order book to nearly 100 airplanes. The order was finalized this year and was listed as unidentified on Boeing's Orders & Deliveries website.

Qatar Airways helped launch the 777X program and now has 60 777-9 passenger airplanes on order. The airline is also the inaugural launch customer for the 777-8 Freighter and has 34 of the next-generation cargo jets on order.

"Qatar Airways is proud to announce an expansion to the existing Boeing 777X aircraft order with an additional 20, totaling 94 Boeing 777X aircraft," said Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer. "As the World's Best Airline, we are an industry leader and operate one of the youngest fleets, offering unparalleled innovation and quality. Keeping an eye on the future, we continue to ensure that all Qatar Airways passengers are only met with the best products and services available in the industry."

The 777X program is based on the popular Boeing 777 family and incorporates advanced technologies from the 787 Dreamliner. It is designed to set new efficiency standards, environmental performance, and passenger experience. The 777-9 is the largest in the family and will help operators open new growth opportunities. It has a capacity for 426 passengers in a typical two-class configuration and a range of 7,295 nautical miles (13,510 km). Boeing began certification flight testing for the 777-9 earlier this month, offering a new level of passenger comfort with a spacious cabin, better humidity, a quiet environment, and increased natural light.

"Qatar Airways is a leader in our industry, and we are honoured that the airline added 20 more 777-9 jets to its large Boeing order book," said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We appreciate their confidence that Boeing's market-leading widebody family will provide outstanding fuel efficiency and a superior passenger experience for its global operations."

In addition to the 777X family, Qatar Airways has 12 787 Dreamliner and 25 737 MAX aircraft on order. Boeing's 2024 Commercial Market Outlook forecasts that twin-aisle jets such as its 777X and 787 Dreamliner will make up 44% of the region's fleet across Middle Eastern operators over the next 20 years.

About Qatar Airways:

Qatar Airways is a multiple award-winning airline. It won the 'World's Best Airline' for the eighth time at the 2024 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organization Skytrax. The airline continues to be synonymous with excellence, also taking home 'World's Best Business Class', 'World's Best Business Class Airline Lounge', and 'Best Airline in the Middle East'. Qatar Airways was also recently voted the 'World's Best Airline Website' by the World Travel Tech Awards.

Qatar Airways was the first airline in the Middle East to be certified to the highest level of IATA's Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) program, based on recognized environmental management system principles. As an inaugural signatory to the Buckingham Palace Declaration in March 2016, Qatar Airways became the first airline globally to be certified to the industry standard for preventing illegal wildlife trafficking in aviation.

Qatar Airways currently flies to over 170 destinations worldwide, connecting through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, which was voted the 'World's Best Airport' by Skytrax in 2021, 2022, and 2024. Hamad International Airport also received the 'Best Airport in the Middle East' accolade for 10 consecutive years and 'World's Best Airport Shopping' for the second year in a row.

About Boeing:

As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures, and services commercial airplanes, defense products, and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability, and community impact.