Qatar Airways orders 160 wide body Boeing jets with GE engines

[GON]

Significant purchase of US made wide body jets from Qatar Airlines. Not sure if the GE engines that come with these aircraft are made in the US or France.

Good to see as I am seeing Asian Carriers like Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific migrate from Boeing to Airbus, primarily for the A350-1000. Of note American carrier Delta is also going Airbus wide body instead of Boeing.

Hope Boeing new leadership can deliver these aircraft on time, maybe even open another aircraft manufacturing plant.

https://www.reuters.com/business/ae...uy-jets-boeing-during-trump-visit-2025-05-14/

 

[dnewton3]

A warning to all -
Please leave the politics (direct and veiled) out of this.

 

[john_pifer]

I’d be surprised if Qatar followed through on buying 160 jets.

The question of whether Boeing is capable of delivering on that order while meeting quality standards and promised price and deadlines also enters my mind.

I’m no expert of course, but the way it often seems to go is that an airline places an order for a certain number of aircraft, then the OEM falls behind on the order in some way (timeframe, cost, or quality). Then, the airline uses that shortfall as a tool to negotiate a better deal, or reduce the number of aircraft theyll actually follow through on buying.

Do you think Qatar actually intends to go through with buying 160 Boeing jets?

 

[GON]

I’d be surprised if Qatar followed through on buying 160 jets.

The question of whether Boeing is capable of delivering on that order while meeting quality standards and promised price also enters my mind.

I’m no expert of course, but the way it often seems to go is that an airline places an order for a certain number of aircraft, then the OEM falls behind on the order in some way (timeframe, cost, or quality). Then, the airline uses that shortfall as a tool to negotiate a better deal, or reduce the number of aircraft theyll actually follow through on buying.

Do you think Qatar actually intends to go through with buying 160 Boeing jets?

Qatar has a huge wide body fleet. The Middle East is the fastest growing international airline hub in the world.

Yes, absolutely believe Qatar Airlines intent is to take delivery of these aircraft. Qatar Airways has been very unhappy with its Airbus A350 purchase, and felt Airbus was arrogant when trying to resolve a problem.

Middle east is working hard on generating significant businesses outside of energy exports. Passenger transport is one method the Qatari government is investing billions in airlines/ airliners.

I have flown Qatar Airlines a380, a350, and 777. It is a very legitimate airline.

 

[GON]

A little background on the Qatar Airways, Airbus dispute

Not very often a global airline will post a negative article about the world's largest passenger aircraft manufacturer for all the world to see.

Deep hard feelings about Airbus from Qatar Airways.

https://www.qatarairways.com/press-...tar-airways-statement-on-airbus-a350-aircraft

 

[Nessism1]

A deal like this is likely decades long.

This part of the story caught my eye... Boeing's order book included 521 777X orders and 828 787 orders as of April 30, according to the company.

Boeing is pushing hard to increase 787 production. They are still way below where they were before all the problems started to occur, plus COVID delays.

 

[GON]

A deal like this is likely decades long.

This part of the story caught my eye... Boeing's order book included 521 777X orders and 828 787 orders as of April 30, according to the company.

Boeing is pushing hard to increase 787 production. They are still way below where they were before all the problems started to occur, plus COVID delays.

Maybe, just maybe at some point Boeing will look into a course of action of opening another wide body manufacturing plant.

I am sure the recently shuttered C17 manufacturing facility in Long Beach California has been sectioned off into small parcels and is no longer a match for aircraft manufacturing, but somewhere in the US must a good location to start an additional widebody assembly plant for Boeing.

 

[oilboy123]

They are adding warehouse space in Puget Sound........ If Boeing ever gets things sorted out, they will be pumping out planes.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/com...e-laying-off-workers-3-months-ago/ar-AA1EKnAp

 

[Nessism1]

I thought they made 787s in both Everett and So Carolina at one point.

 

[GON]

I thought they made 787s in both Everett and So Carolina at one point.

Currently, the Boeing 78X family of widebodies are exclusively assembled in North Charleston, SC.

 

[loneryder]

Significant purchase of US made wide body jets from Qatar Airlines. Not sure if the GE engines that come with these aircraft are made in the US or France.

Good to see as I am seeing Asian Carriers like Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific migrate from Boeing to Airbus, primarily for the A350-1000. Of note American carrier Delta is also going Airbus wide body instead of Boeing.

Hope Boeing new leadership can deliver these aircraft on time, maybe even open another aircraft manufacturing plant.

https://www.reuters.com/business/ae...uy-jets-boeing-during-trump-visit-2025-05-14/

It might take them 50 yrs to fill this order. They can't even deliver a new Air Force One.

 

[GON]

It might take them 50 yrs to fill this order. They can't even deliver a new Air Force One.

Yes, well noted.

Hopefully Boeing's new CEO has a vision to get Boeing back to its old self. United's new CEO Scott Kirby has a vision for United and one can't keep up with all the global expansion UAL is doing. All it takes is a CEO with vision, and the ability to hire and motivate the right people, and things can turn to the positive very quickly.

Of note, the last Boeing CEO primarily worked from his home hundreds of miles from any significant Boeing plant or offices.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Yes, well noted.

Hopefully Boeing's new CEO has a vision to get Boeing back to its old self. United's new CEO Scott Kirby has a vision for United and one can't keep up with all the global expansion UAL is doing. All it takes is a CEO with vision, and the ability to hire and motivate the right people, and things can turn to the positive very quickly.

Of note, the last Boeing CEO primarily worked from his home hundreds of miles from any significant Boeing plant or offices.

I truly hope it works out - both Boeing and this order, for the sake of the USA. However they already have a 6 year backlog on 787's. They have been talking about increasing capacity as long as the plant has been here in SC. Never happens.

Having said that, Boeing is a disaster in so many ways. I wonder if its even possible for a single CEO to sort it out. Seems like its ingrained in the Boeing culture at this point.

 

[GON]

Having said that, Boeing is a disaster in so many ways. I wonder if its even possible for a single CEO to sort it out. Seems like its ingrained in the Boeing culture at this point.

CEO of United Scott Kirby sorted it out. Of note, United is the only US carrier with flights that depart and land outside of a US or it's territories. In the past few months United is offering flights from Japan to Mongolia, Japan to Taiwan, Hong Kong to Bangkok, and Hong Kong to Saigon.

Fords former CEO Alan Mullally, who was also a Boeing executive prior to leading Ford, is credited with Ford's success earlier in this century.

Look at Tesla's success. World class factory in Texas, from nothing just a few years ago. A company on the brink of bankruptcy to worlds most valuable automaker with zero long term debt.

Can you imagine if Boeing went from a public corporation to a privately held corporation, and Elon Musk was CEO? Like Elon or hate him, but without a doubt Boeing would be building new assembly plants, be profitable, and deliver an increasingly amount of aircraft quarterly. Elon might be living in a Boeing assembly plant, but Boeing would take back the title as the world's largest passenger aircraft manufacturer


So to recap your question, can a CEO do what seems highly unlikely--- yes---absolutely.

 

[Kira]

From what I've read, it seems "breakthroughs" in fuel economy are what drives airline fleet replacement.
Also, replacement schedules are flexible because the previous generation can be kept flying for a long time.

The details of back orders, Covid era delays, problem fixes and decisions to refresh a fleet would make great study.

 

[97prizm]

Significant purchase of US made wide body jets from Qatar Airlines. Not sure if the GE engines that come with these aircraft are made in the US or France.

Good to see as I am seeing Asian Carriers like Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific migrate from Boeing to Airbus, primarily for the A350-1000. Of note American carrier Delta is also going Airbus wide body instead of Boeing.

Hope Boeing new leadership can deliver these aircraft on time, maybe even open another aircraft manufacturing plant.

https://www.reuters.com/business/ae...uy-jets-boeing-during-trump-visit-2025-05-14/

We need more choice than an airliner duopoly. I'm still shocked that Mitsubishi had over 150 firm orders for their MSJ which looked great. ANA had 54 on order. I think Mitsubishi was more or less very close to FAA and EASA certification. According to them trains are a more lucrative market? The USA had what eight aircraft manufacturers at one point.

 

[GON]

We need more choice than an airliner duopoly. I'm still shocked that Mitsubishi had over 150 firm orders for their MSJ which looked great. ANA had 54 on order. I think Mitsubishi was more or less very close to FAA and EASA certification. According to them trains are a more lucrative market? The USA had what eight aircraft manufacturers at one point.

China is working day and night to add a third player to the widebody passenger aircraft market. Make no mistake, Comec has every single design plan of Boeing and Airbus wide body aircraft in there possession.

 

[Owen Lucas]

China is working day and night to add a third player to the widebody passenger aircraft market. Make no mistake, Comec has every single design plan of Boeing and Airbus wide body aircraft in there possession.

I wouldn't feel comfortable on a Chinese plane even if they copied those designs to the millimeter TBH.

 

[GON]

I wouldn't feel comfortable on a Chinese plane even if they copied those designs to the millimeter TBH.

My latest toothpaste purchase was Crest, manufactured by Proctor and Gamble.

Reading the label, it was concerning to learn this tube of Crest was manufactured in the PRC.

 

[Owen Lucas]

My latest toothpaste purchase was Crest, manufactured by Proctor and Gamble.

Reading the label, it was concerning to learn this tube of Crest was manufactured in the PRC.

I've noticed that on some products myself. I don't trust the water (or any food) in China due to their massive pollution issues. This is one of the reasons I am reluctant to travel there.