US aircraft manufacturer Boeing and Qatar Airways have signed an agreement for a firm order of 25 737-10 passenger aircraft and purchase rights for 25 additional planes.
The total value of this commitment to buy 737-10s – the largest 737 Max jet – is nearly $7 billion at current list prices.
The Memorandum of Understanding was announced along with an order for up to 50 777-8 Freighters, worth more than $20 billion.
The agreement follows the escalation of a legal dispute between Qatar and Boeing’s European rival, Airbus.
Last week, Airbus cancelled a $6 billion order with the airline for 50 A321neos in the ongoing row between the two companies over paint on recently delivered A350s.
More: Aircraft order terminated in escalation of Airbus-Qatar Airways dispute
Qatar Airways Group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways very much looks forward to adding the 737-10 to its fleet, with this new variant of the 737 being ideally suited to our short-haul network, allowing us an opportunity to further enhance our product offering for our customers, modernise our fleet and operate the most efficient aircraft in its category.”
Stan Deal, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and chief executive, added: “The largest member of the 737 family, the 737-10 is an airplane that offers more capacity, greater fuel efficiency and the best per-seat economics of any single-aisle airplane.
“We are proud of our partnership with Qatar Airways and honoured that this world class airline continues to put its trust in our Boeing team.”
The agreement to buy the Max passenger jets and freight aircraft was signed at the White House in Washington DC by Al Baker and Deal, along with US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo; ambassador Sheikh Mishaal bin Hamad Al Thani; director of the White House National Economic Council Brian Deese; and Boeing president and chief executive Dave Calhoun.
Picture of Boeing 737 Max 10: PRNewsfoto/Boeing