Air transport

Boeing, 787 Dreamliner mega order with Qatar Airways

There are 210 aircraft on the shopping list, including 130 Dreamliners, 30 777-9s and 50 options. Positive effects on the Grottaglie plant

15 May 2025

2' min read

The mega order from Middle Eastern airline Qatar Airways brings the total number of Boeing widebody long-haul aircraft to 210 and represents the largest 787 Dreamliner order and the largest order ever for Qatar Airways. This purchase, which also includes additional orders for Boeing's new 777-9, will support approximately 400,000 jobs in the US and lay the foundation for the carrier's international expansion, a joint statement said.

The order includes 130 787 Dreamliners, 30 777-9s and options for a further 50 aircraft between the 787 and the 777X, Boeing's new aircraft under certification.

Qatar Airways currently has more than 150 Boeing aircraft in its fleet, including 777s, 787s and 777 freighters. With this acquisition, Qatar Airways will become the largest operator of 787 Dreamliners in the Middle East.

The deal, the value of which Qatar Airways has not disclosed but is estimated to be around $100 billion, was signed during US President Donald Trump's visit to the Gulf Arab country.

For Boeing, it was a particularly good week that began with China's withdrawal of deliveries of its aircraft, as an agreement on the trade truce signed with the US. Added to this was the mega order from the Gulf company Qatar Airlines.

Boeing has lost more than $35 billion since 2019 after two 737 Max crashes that killed 346 people.

The mega-order of the 787 Dreamliner is also good news for the Italian plant in Grottaglie where parts of the Deamliner fuselages are produced using advanced composite materials such as carbon, and structural parts of the aircraft such as ribs and strings. Boeing's crisis and the reduction in production have had a significant impact on the Grottaglie plant. After a disastrous year, the American manufacturer is now on the upswing: according to Boeing's latest declarations, the target will rise from the current 2.5 pairs per month to 5 pairs in July and 7 pairs per month by the end of the year. In a year's time, Boeing estimates, carbon-fibre fuselage production could rise again to 10 pairs per month.