Qatar Airways eyes potential order of Boeing 777X freighters

Doha-based People familiar with the situation informed Reuters on January 25, 2022 that Qatar Airways is in “advanced” talks with Boeing to finalise a large purchase of Boeing 777X freighters.

The potential order of up to 50 777X freighters between Boeing and Qatar Airways, according to the report, may be finalised in early February 2022, ahead of the emir of Qatar’s visit to the United States.

Since the beginning of 2021, Qatar Airways has been looking for new cargo aircraft to replace its older fleet of Boeing 777 freighters. The airline has been debating between the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 777X cargo models.

Qatar Airways’ chief executive Akbar Al Baker said during the Dubai Airshow 2021 that Boeing has already made an interesting offer, raising the possibility that Qatar Airways may be the first customer for a freighter version of Boeing’s new 777X passenger plane.

“Of course, I cannot tell you with whom we are going to place the order. But one thing I can say is that the proposal we have received from Boeing is very attractive to the airline,” Al Baker was quoted as saying.

According to Planespotters.net, Qatar Airways Cargo currently has 28 freighters in its fleet. There are 26 Boeing 777Fs and two Boeing 747 freighters in the airline’s fleet.