Qatar Airways has confirmed its $1.2 billion order for four Boeing 777 Freighters, while the US aircraft manufacturer annouces it delivered 27 freighters in 2014.
Qatar Airways announced its intention to purchase four 777F at the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2014. With an option for four more 777F, the total deal is potentially worth $2.46 billion for Boeing. The firm order for four 777F will add to the airline’s existing fleet of seven 777F.
Qatar’s chief executive officer (CEO), Akbar Al Baker, says: “With its proven track record, long-range capabilities and excellent operational efficiencies, the 777 freighter will be a key player in enabling Qatar Airways to grow its footprint and economically deliver cargo further, connecting many long haul destinations our hub in Doha.”
Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ president and CEO, Ray Conner, says: “As Qatar Airways develops its cargo route network, we are pleased they have selected the 777 freighter to be part of this expansion.”
This week, Boeing announced that in 2014 it delivered 27 freighters. They are, 13 777F, five Boeing 767-300 Freighters and nine Boeing 747-8 Freighters, out of a total of 723 deliveries.
Conner says of the 2014 performance: “I’m extremely proud of the entire Boeing team, and all the hard work that went into delivering and selling a record number of commercial airplanes this past year.”
Throughout 2014 Qatar Airways Cargo has expanded its network. In June, it started a twice-weekly freighter service to Licenciado Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City.
In July, it expanded service to Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi from weekly to twice-weekly on 22 July. In October its started a four times weekly service to Brussels via Entebbe (Uganda) on Wednesday and Sunday, and via Nairobi on Monday and Friday using an Airbus A330 Freighter. It also started 777F services to Shanghai (China).
The airline started weekly flights to Stavanger (Norway), stopping at Brussels, using an A330F in November. In December it started twice weekly flights to Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos (Nigeria), and onwards to Kotoka International Airport in Accra. It also commenced thrice-weekly flights to Guangzhou (China).
In 2013, Qatar ordered five Airbus A330-200 Freighters, with the option of a further eight, at that year’s Dubai Airshow. A deal worth up to $2.8 billion for all 13 aircraft. The Qatar Airways Boeing deal adds to the 300 aircraft the airline has on order, valued at $50 billion.
