DOHA, Qatar — In a major win for the U.S. aerospace industry, Qatar Airways signed a deal to purchase up to 210 Boeing widebody jets during President Donald Trump’s visit to the Gulf nation on Wednesday. The $96 billion agreement, announced by the White House, is seen as a symbolic and strategic victory for Trump and a crucial boost for Boeing and GE Aerospace amid fierce global aviation competition.
The landmark deal includes 130 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 30 777X jets, along with options for an additional 50 aircraft, according to Boeing. It also features the largest engine purchase in GE Aerospace’s history—a sale of 400 engines for the jets.
Trump and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani attended the signing ceremony alongside Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg and Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer. Trump highlighted the order as a historic achievement for the American planemaker. “Kelly told me this is the biggest jet deal in Boeing’s history,” Trump said during the ceremony.
The purchase marks a strong statement of confidence in U.S. aerospace during Trump’s high-profile Gulf tour, following a series of military and economic agreements signed with Saudi Arabia a day earlier.
The aircraft will be powered by GE Aerospace engines, further enhancing the deal’s economic footprint. For the 787s, Qatar Airways chose GE’s GEnx engines over Rolls-Royce’s Trent 1000, while the 777X will use GE’s exclusive GE9X engine. GE Aerospace CEO Larry Culp confirmed it was the company’s largest-ever engine sale, underscoring the strategic and financial importance of the transaction.
GE Aerospace shares rose 0.1% in response, while Boeing shares climbed 0.9% on Wall Street.
The agreement comes at a pivotal moment in the global aviation market, particularly in the Gulf region, where high temperatures have challenged competitors like Airbus. Rolls-Royce engines powering Airbus A350s have struggled with maintenance issues in extreme climates, giving Boeing and GE a competitive edge.
Qatar Airways already holds 94 orders for the 777X, which remains in development and is expected to begin deliveries in 2026—six years behind its original schedule. Rival Emirates leads global 777X orders with 205.
As of April 30, Boeing reported 521 total orders for the 777X and 828 for the 787. The exact breakdown of Qatar Airways’ new orders—including how many are firm versus optional—has not yet been confirmed. Boeing no longer publishes list prices, and aviation analysts caution that bulk orders typically involve significant discounts, meaning the true value of the deal may differ from the White House’s stated figure.
Neither Boeing nor Qatar Airways immediately responded to requests for further comment.
The deal aligns with Qatar Airways’ strategic expansion plans. In March, the airline’s Chief Commercial Officer Thierry Antinori told Reuters that Qatar was preparing a significant widebody order to support its long-term global growth goals.
With the ink now dry on what could be the largest jet engine transaction in history, the deal strengthens Boeing’s standing in the Gulf and enhances Trump’s business diplomacy narrative as he continues his outreach in the region.
