Boeing, Qatar Airways inked a massive deal.
So, U.S. President Donald Trump, Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg got together in Doha, Qatar, on May 14, 2025, for a signing ceremony. It was quite the shindig, with a lot of handshakes and smiles. You could almost feel the excitement in the air. Brian Snyder captured the whole thing in a Reuters photo.
The big news of the day? Boeing and Qatar Airways announced a deal for the airline to buy up to 210 jets. That’s a lot of planes! It’s actually Boeing’s largest-ever order of widebody aircraft. The order includes 130 of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliners and 30 of its 777-9s. And get this, there are options for up to 50 more planes. Can you imagine owning that many planes? It’s like having your own mini airline!
Qatar Airways wasn’t just stopping at planes, though. They also signed an agreement with GE Aerospace for over 400 engines to power those bad boys. That’s a lot of power! GE Aerospace must be feeling pretty good about snagging such a huge deal. And let’s not forget about the folks at Boeing. This deal is a big deal for them too. Stephanie Pope, the CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, called it a “record-breaking order.” That’s a pretty fancy way of saying they hit the jackpot.
President Trump was right in the middle of all the action, as usual. He was on a state visit with the emir of Qatar, making deals and shaking hands. The Amiri Diwan in Doha was the place to be for the signing ceremony. Trump couldn’t help but gush about the whole thing, calling it the “largest order of jets in the history of Boeing.” That’s a pretty big deal, even for someone like Trump who’s used to big deals.
Now, let’s talk numbers. The White House put a price tag of $96 billion on the plane deal. That’s a whole lot of zeros! They also said it would support a whopping 154,000 U.S. jobs annually. That’s a whole lot of people going to work because of this deal. Boeing and Qatar Airways, however, had a slightly different take. They estimated that the deal would create around 400,000 jobs in the U.S. That’s a whole lot of jobs, no matter how you slice it.
But let’s not forget about Boeing’s recent struggles. The company hasn’t turned a profit since 2018. Ouch! They’ve had safety concerns, manufacturing defects, and even a strike to deal with. Not to mention the whole trade war mess with China. It’s been a rough road for Boeing, to say the least. But hey, this deal with Qatar Airways could be just what they need to turn things around.
All in all, it looks like a win-win for everyone involved. Qatar Airways gets a shiny new fleet of planes, Boeing gets a much-needed boost, and the U.S. job market gets a shot in the arm. Not bad for a day’s work in Doha. Who knew buying planes could be so exciting?
