It looks like Qatar Airways is about to place a major aircraft order. Some might even say Qatar Airways is doing some revenge shopping, given the carrier’s ongoing dispute with Airbus.
Qatar Airways to be launch customer for 777X freighter
Bloomberg is reporting that Qatar Airways is planning to become the launch customer for the new Boeing 777X freighter. Specifically, the Doha-based airline will allegedly place a firm order for 15 of these jets, with purchase options for 50 jets. An announcement is expected on Monday, January 31, 2022, as it’s believed that this will coincide with Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, meeting with US President Joe Biden.
Cargo has become an increasingly important focus for airlines during the pandemic, and the Qatar Airways Cargo fleet currently consists of 26 Boeing 777Fs, plus two Boeing 747-8Fs.
The major significance here is that Qatar Airways would also become the launch customer for the Boeing 777X freighter, as Boeing hasn’t yet formally revealed many details about what to expect from that plane.
For that matter, Boeing is still working on the passenger version of the 777X, which at this point is expected to enter service in late 2023 at the earliest, after a delay of several years. One has to wonder when the freighter jets could actually enter service. Then again, once the passenger version of the plane is fully approved and in service, there aren’t that many changes needed to get the freighter version flying.
Qatar Airways already has up to 60 of the passenger version of the Boeing 777Xs on order, including 10 Boeing 777-8s and 50 Boeing 777-9s.
Is Qatar Airways revenge shopping?
The timing here sure is interesting. Airbus and Boeing are competing to launch next generation wide body freighters, with Boeing working on a 777X freighter, and Airbus working on an A350 freighter.
This order from Qatar…