Tuesday 26 September 2017

Qatar Air chief picks up a 747 cargo jet

A new Boeing 747-8 freighter, with the open nose revealing the freight deck inside, stands following a delivery ceremony of the jet to Qatar Airways on Monday. (Elaine Thompson/AP)

Originally published September 25, 2017 at 3:59 pm 
Updated September 25, 2017 at 4:35 pm

Seattle Times aerospace reporter

Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker took delivery of a new 747-8 jumbo jet freighter in Everett on Monday, and revealed that his airline is the unidentified buyer previously listed by Boeing as ordering six large jets.

The airline will take a second 747 jumbo in November and has pending orders for four 777-300ER passenger jets, he disclosed.

The six jets have a total list price of $2.16 billion. However, according to market pricing data from aircraft valuation firm Avitas, the jets are worth slightly more than $1 billion after standard industry discounts.

Qatar has recently announced several blockbuster deals with Western companies that seemed to be aimed at shoring up political support after its Gulf neighbors — led by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt — this summer accused Qatar of supporting terrorism and imposed an economic blockade.

Last week, Qatar, which has a tiny Air Force, announced it will buy 24 Eurofighter Typhoon jet fighters from Britain, even though it already has on order 24 Dassault Rafale fighters from France and 36 Boeing F-15 Eagle fighters from the U.S.

Qatar is separately in dispute with the largest U.S. airlines, which accuse it and the other giant Gulf carriers of unfair competition because they receive support from their governments.

In an Everett news conference Monday, Al Baker had a sharp message for American, Delta and United. Those airlines should “just shut up and mind their own business,” Al Baker said, according to Reuters.

Qatar’s importance to Boeing is measured by its unfilled orders for 60 of the forthcoming 777X large widebody aircraft, 30 more 787 Dreamliners and 20 of the single-aisle 737 MAXs.

Dominic Gates: 206-464-2963 or dgates@seattletimes.com

Original post: seattletimes.com


A beautiful addition to @qatarairways cargo fleet, #Boeing delivers their 1st 747-8 Freighter with 1 more on order along with 4 777-300ERs. Source: BoeingAirplanes

Related post:


Eurofighter Typhoon: Details


F-15E: Details


F-15SA (Saudi Advanced): Details


Rafale: HERE

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