Boeing scores biggest ever order as Trump cozies up to Qatar
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A Boeing 787 jet operates on the tarmac at an airport in Haikou City, China. Photo: Liu Yang/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Count Boeing as a big winner of the Trump administration's trade policy —despite a sometimes frosty relationship with the president.
Why it matters: It's a decisive turn for a company slammed by business and regulatory disasters caused by quality troubles, legal problems, labor issues and — most recently — trade walls.
Zoom in: In just the last week, the company has picked up big sales deals in the U.K. and the Middle East and avoided a potentially crushing Chinese ban on plane deliveries.
- Boeing scored the biggest aircraft sale in its history in a deal announced yesterday by President Trump.
- Qatar Airways is buying up to 210 Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777X aircraft, all made in the U.S. with GE Aerospace engines, the White House announced.
- Boeing confirmed the order, saying it includes 130 787 Dreamliners, 30 777-9s and options for 50 additional aircraft.
The intrigue: The president has repeatedly torched Boeing since retaking the White House over its long-delayed program to build two new Air Force One jets — a contract Trump originally signed early in his first term.
- The company now plans to deliver the two new jets in 2027, before Trump leaves office.
State of play: The announcement comes after China reportedly ended a ban on its airlines acquiring Boeing jets after striking a trade deal with the Trump administration, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.
- The country had effectively halted imports of American jets and aircraft parts in retaliation for Trump's tariffs.
- Separately, the Saudi Public Investment Fund's AviLease has ordered up to 30 new single-aisle Boeing 737-8 jets, Boeing announced.
- Boeing last week reportedly nailed a deal to sell 30 of its 787 Dreamliners to British Airways parent IAG.
Reality check: There are really only two manufacturers of huge jets — and Qatar Airways has a frosty relationship with the other one, Airbus.
The bottom line: Boeing appears to be getting back on its feet, though it's debatable how much of that is due to Trump's trade policies.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that the plane ID is 787 Dreamliners (not 737 Dreamliners).
