Qatar Airways has expanded its order of Boeing 777X aircraft to include 20 Boeing 777-9s, it was announced on Wednesday.

The airline placed the order on the second day of the Farnborough International Airshow.

The new order is in addition to the airline’s existing order of 40 Boeing 777-9 commercial aircraft, bringing the total to 94 commercial and cargo Boeing 777X aircraft. The announcement also includes a commitment for 40 additional GE9X engines and spare engines, as well as a long-term services agreement.

“Qatar Airways is proud to announce an expansion to the existing Boeing 777X aircraft order with an additional 20, totaling 94 Boeing 777X aircraft. We are an industry leader and operate one of the youngest fleets, offering unparalleled innovation and quality. Keeping an eye on the future, we continue to ensure that all Qatar Airways passengers are only met with the best products and services available in the industry,” Qatar Airways group CEO Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said.

“Qatar Airways is a leader in our industry, and we are honored the airline added 20 more 777-9 jets to its large Boeing order book. We appreciate their confidence that Boeing’s market-leading widebody family will provide outstanding fuel efficiency and a superior passenger experience for its global operations,” added Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Stephanie Pope.

On the first day of the airshow, Qatar Airways showcased Qsuite Next Gen, the latest version of its business class, which will be featured on the 20 additional Boeing 777-9 aircraft, amongst other aircraft. The Qsuite Next Gen includes updated features such as movable monitors with Bluetooth connectivity, companion suits with window views, larger lie-flat and double beds, lockable drawers, touchscreen passenger control units and more.

Strongest performance in history

Earlier this month, Qatar Airways Group reported the strongest financial performance in its 27-year history, announcing record profits of QAR6.1 billion ($1.7 billion) in its annual report for the 2023-24 financial year.

The group reported historic net profits of QAR6.1 billion during the 2023-24 fiscal, with a total revenue of QAR81 billion, representing an increase of QAR4.7 billion, up six per cent compared to last year.

The group generated a strong EBITDA margin of 24 per cent at QAR19.1 billion, around QAR1.2 billion higher than the previous year, reflecting the business’s continued focus on customer experience, innovation, digitalisation and sustainability, resulting in streamlined, agile and fit-for-purpose operations across all areas.

This has created a strong platform for the future of the group’s airline business, which carried more than 40 million passengers during the 2023-24 fiscal, an increase of 26 per cent over the previous year.

As a result, passenger revenue increased by 19 per cent, with a capacity increase of 21 per cent driven by the airline’s highest-ever load factor of 83 per cent, offering a sustainable upsurge in market share.

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