Trump visit: Qatar Airways' potential 100 Boeing jets order would be 'big boost' for struggling US company
Live updates: Follow the latest on Trump's Gulf trip An order by Qatar Airways for up to 100 wide-body Boeing aircraft during US President Donald Trump's visit to Doha this week would be a major boost for the struggling US aircraft manufacturer. The deal is expected to be signed as part of a series of bilateral agreements between the US and the Gulf countries, Bloomberg reported. The airline is also expected to announce option of another 100 jets from the US plane maker, the report said. 'For Boeing, any sizeable wide-body order, even after usual industry discounts, will provide not just guaranteed employment for its workers and grow Boeing's backlog, it will also make other airlines consider their own future fleet needs, too,' Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at StrategicAero Research, told The National. If big airlines like Qatar Airways are block booking orders, it means delivery slots are at a premium and 'so this may well trigger further orders from other airlines – particularly for the hot-selling 787 family', he said. Mr Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE this week is part of a diplomatic sweep through the region. He aims to seal investment as well as corporate deals with close Gulf allies to boost his image as a dealmaker. 'While it could be argued there is a diplomatic angle [for the potential order], Qatar Airways operates some of the earliest 787s – so it stands to reason any order for new 787s will come down the line over a period of years, replacing these earlier models. Similarly, any 777X order will eventually supplant their current 777-300ER fleet,' Mr Ahmad said. Boeing has been struggling to turn operations around after a turbulent 2024, when it navigated a large number of problems including a prolonged workers' strike, safety issues on some of its most widely used commercial planes, lower jet deliveries, overrunning costs of defence contracts and shake-ups in its senior management. The company posted an annual loss of $11.8 billion for 2024, its biggest since 2020 and its sixth annual deficit in a row. The plane maker has also come under increasing pressure after the US-China trade war sparked by Mr Trump's tariffs led to some Chinese airlines refusing to take deliveries of Boeing planes. 'It is understandable that Boeing's production challenges may hamper airline growth, but the reality is that airlines don't have a lot of choice when it comes to buying aeroplanes – and not every rival Airbus aeroplane can fulfil or replace every competing Boeing aeroplane,' Mr Ahmad said. 'So, Qatar Airways is getting in early with a view to Boeing's turnaround that will ultimately mean higher production rates, which in turn means the airline gets faster deliveries, newer aeroplanes, lower costs and boost efficiency.' The longer-term knock-on effect, he added is 'what's at play here, not the current state of play'. Qatar Airways, which operates flights to more than 170 destinations, is also expanding its route network amid strong long-haul travel demand. Thierry Antinori, the airline's chief commercial officer, told Reuters in March that it soon planned to place a 'big order' for wide-body jets to support its growth plans. Meanwhile, Qatar is also in talks to supply the US with a Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet as a replacement for the ageing Air Force One, but denied the suggestion that the aircraft was a 'gift'. 'The possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatar's Ministry of Defence and the US Department of Defence,' said Ali Al Ansari, Qatar's media attaché to Washington, stressing that no decision had been made. The talks sparked a commotion in Washington after Mr Trump suggested the new plane was a 'gift'. Calling the plane a 'flying palace,' ABC News, which first reported the story, claimed the jet would possibly be the most expensive gift yet received by the American government.
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Most of the matches have been bunched together on the east coast of the country, with just two cities on the other side of the map getting to host games. Manchester City's schedule sees them go to Philadelphia for the first game against Wydad on June 18, then to Atlanta to face Al Ain four days later and finally to Orlando to take on Juventus four days after that in Group G. That is a fairly straightforward travel plan for Pep Guardiola's team, with flight times ranging from two to three hours. Atletico Madrid, on the other hand, go from Los Angeles to Seattle and back for their group games against PSG, Seattle Sounders and Botafogo, with each trip upwards of three hours. MLS side Seattle Sounders get to play all their games at home, so don't travel at all. While it might be manageable for teams, fans will have to think twice about the matches they wish to attend. Those hoping to go from Seattle to Miami should be prepared for a six-hour flight. Similarly, LA to New York takes more than five-and-a-half hours by flight. Which means only the most ardent fans will want to travel to west coast, as a majority of the games take place on the eastern side of the country. Prize money The tournament has a staggering prize pool of $1 billion, with the winners standing to earn a cool $125 million. According to Fifa, around $525m has been set aside as guaranteed fees for teams taking part. That includes more than $38m for the top-ranked European teams. Apart from that, $475m has been earmarked for the matches, with $2m for winning group stage games, $7.5m for playing in the last 16 and $40m for the winners of the final.
