Qatar Airways To Order 200 Aircraft

Qatar Airways looks set to finalise its purchase of a staggering 200 new widebody aircraft from Boeing.

The purchase, which has been long rumoured, would be a colossal win for the American planemaker, as it would boost the backlog of its commercial airplanes division.

According to Bloomberg News, the contract, which could be announced early next week, would include 100 widebody jets, most likely. However, options that could be converted into firm orders would be for the same amount, likely bringing the purchase close to 200.

Qatar Airways already has a healthy widebody fleet and a substantial backlog, too, notably consisting of the uncertified and thus undelivered Boeing 777X. However, with high levels of competition, the Doha-based carrier never feels this is enough.

Looking ahead, the company wants to meet strong demand and compete with other carriers that are similarly looking to advance as a business long into the future.

The reporting did not confirm the prospective split for the widebody aircraft selected. However, fleet data indicates that the carrier has commitments for the 777X and already flies the 787 Dreamliner.

Based on the fleet, it wouldn’t be unfamiliar with any choice. A further purchase for the 777X would just deepen its reliance on the program, for it also could’ve leveraged frustrations over delays to obtain a better contract.

Qatar Airways’ Long Reported Interest

Qatar Airways’ leadership has been focused on the prospective purchase of new widebody aircraft for some time now, and it is finally being implemented.

Due to its geographical positioning and business model choice, Qatar Airways faces intense competition from regional giants like Emirates and Etihad Airways.

The airlines mentioned above are global carriers, and both are modernising their fleets to advance as a generation of airlines.

This renewal enhances efficiency, reduces costs, and seeks to improve customer satisfaction, which is a big part of airlines’ business models in this part of the world.

Widebody aircraft are crucial, as Qatar relies on long-haul connectivity through its Doha hub. To sustain its market share, Qatar must ensure it has enough aircraft flying daily and that its backlog for deliveries into the 2030s is present.

The last thing the airline wants is to be short on aircraft by the midway point of the next decade as other companies begin to emerge and attempt to cement their lead.