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Could a massive order from Qatar Airways for Boeing widebodies be yet another sign that Boeing’s woes are finally in the rearview mirror?
Boeing has weathered a storm of setbacks in recent years, from safety scandals to production delays and financial losses.
Yet, a string of 2025 deals, headlined by a historic $96 billion order from Qatar Airways for up to 210 widebody aircraft, is a massive win for a company in desperate need of wins.
This deal—Boeing’s largest-ever widebody and 787 Dreamliner order—was announced on 14 May 2025 in Doha and significantly bolsters the company’s recovery.
A ‘Landmark’ Deal in Doha
The Qatar Airways order, unveiled at a high-profile accord-signing ceremony in Doha on Wednesday, includes firm commitments for 130 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 30 Boeing 777-9 jets, with options for 50 additional aircraft of either type.
Today’s announcement coincides with US President Donald Trump’s state visit to the Gulf Arab country, the second stop on his tour of the Middle East.
Valued at $96 billion, it was announced alongside Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, President Trump, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, and Qatar Airways Group CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer.
After Ortberg signed the deal, President Donald Trump congratulated the OEM.
“Congratulations to Boeing,” Trump said. Get those planes out there. Get them out there.”
Congratulations to Boeing. Get those planes out there. Get them out there.
US President Donald J. Trump
This order would nearly double the capacity of Qatar Airways, operating a 230-aircraft fleet from its central hub at Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH). The carrier serves nearly 200 destinations—including 11 US cities like Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Washington (IAD), Houston (IAH), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), and Seattle (SEA).
This widebody order will undoubtedly leverage the 787’s fuel efficiency and the 777X’s extended range to bolster long-haul operations. With this agreement, Qatar will become the largest Dreamliner operator in the Middle East. It is the largest aircraft order in Qatar’s history.
“We are happy to announce our agreement with Boeing and our partnership in the largest aircraft order in our history,” said Qatar CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer. “A critical next step for Qatar Airways on our path as we invest in the cleanest, youngest, and most efficient fleet in global aviation. This so we can meet the strong demand in the airline as we seamlessly connect passengers to the world better than anyone.”
Qatar, a loyal Boeing customer with 64 Boeing 777s (seven -200s, 57 -300ERs) and 53 787s (31 -8s, 22 -9s), also operates a large number of Airbus aircraft, including 27 A320-200s, 11 A330s (three -200s, eight -300s), 58 A350 XWBs (34 -900s, 24 -1000s), and eight A380-800s. Bloomberg reports Qatar may order more A350s at the 2025 Paris Air Show next month.
The Economic and Strategic Impact of Boeing’s Orders
The deal is a boon for Boeing, which is grappling with a $500 billion, 5,700-jet backlog and no profits since 2018. The White House estimates the deal “will support 154,000 U.S. jobs annually, totaling over 1 million jobs during the course of production and delivery.” GE Aerospace benefits significantly, with its GE9X and GEnx engines powering the 777X and 787, respectively, reinforcing Boeing’s supply chain and US manufacturing. The order, comprising more than 400 GE9X and GEnx engines, also represents the largest widebody engine deal in GE Aerospace history.
This order follows other 2025 wins. On 13 May, Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh-based aircraft lessor AviLease placed a $4.8 billion order for up to 30 Boeing 737 MAX 8s (20 firm, 10 options), its first-ever direct order with Boeing. Just last week, International Airlines Group (IAG) announced a $10 billion deal for 32 787-10 Dreamliners for British Airways, spurred by a US-U.K. trade agreement.
These contracts signal renewed confidence in Boeing’s portfolio, particularly its widebody offerings, as it competes with Airbus. It’s certainly the best Boeing has looked in a long while.
Boeing’s Production Turnaround
Boeing’s 2025 performance is encouraging. The company has delivered 175 aircraft year-to-date, including 45 in April and 41 in March, up 50% from 107 during the same period in 2024. Projections indicate 560 deliveries in 2025, compared to 348 in 2024, with a potential 800 by 2028. This ramp-up is critical for clearing the backlog and restoring profitability, especially for the 737 program, Boeing’s “meat-and-potatoes.”
The Qatar order diversifies Boeing’s production, reducing reliance on the 737 program. The 787, built in Everett and North Charleston, South Carolina, benefits from streamlined processes, though quality control remains under scrutiny. The 777X, awaiting certification with deliveries slated for 2026, is a long-term bet. Qatar’s commitment validates Boeing’s widebody strategy.
Overcoming Challenges
Boeing’s recovery follows a rocky decade, including the 737 MAX crashes and the January 2024 Alaska Airlines Flight 1262 incident, where a window plug blew out midflight shortly after takeoff from Portland International Airport (PDX).
The near-catastrophe raised urgent safety concerns, prompting CEO Kelly Ortberg’s return from retirement. Since then, he has prioritized safety and quality, helped resolve a 2024 worker strike, and stabilized finances. Additionally, Ortberg has implemented much stricter supplier audits and production oversight to rebuild public trust.
It’s worth noting that this deal comes amid controversy surrounding a potential Qatari gift of a Boeing 747-8 to President Trump and ongoing delays with the new Air Force One program. That said, AvGeekery’s focus remains squarely on aviation—we’ll leave the political angles to other outlets.
The Road Ahead
Boeing’s 2025 wins are encouraging for the beleaguered manufacturer. The Qatar deal, the largest widebody and 787 order in Boeing’s history underscores continued confidence in its products.
Going forward, Boeing’s stakes are clear. It must maintain and improve quality, accelerate the certification process for the 777X, 737 MAX 7, and 737 MAX 10, and sustain delivery momentum.
Boeing’s path forward requires precision. With 560 deliveries targeted for 2025 and a long-term goal of 800 by 2028, Ortberg’s leadership will be tested. For now, the Qatar order is an unequivocally significant step in the right direction.
Could it be that Boeing is climbing out of its challenges and heading toward a brighter future? Time will tell, but if the first few months of 2025 are any indication, we are betting big on our storied planemaker.
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