Elijah Ntongai, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, has over four years of financial, business, and technology research and reporting experience, providing insights into Kenyan and global trends.

Doha, Qatar — Qatar Airways has signed a historic agreement to purchase up to 210 wide-body aircraft from Boeing in a record-breaking aviation deal valued at $96 billion (over KSh 12.5 trillion).

The announcement was made during US President Donald Trump’s visit to Doha, where he touted the deal as a landmark in US-Qatar relations and a victory for American manufacturing.

The agreement, described by the White House as Boeing’s “largest-ever” wide-body aircraft order, includes 130 of the fuel-efficient 787 Dreamliners and 30 777-9s — Boeing’s next-generation wide-body jets.

The deal also includes options for an additional 50 aircraft, making it the single largest acquisition in Qatar Airways’ history.

“We are deeply honoured that Qatar Airways has placed this record-breaking order with Boeing. This partnership strengthens Boeing’s global leadership in wide-body aviation and supports thousands of American jobs,” said Stephanie Pope, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

According to Boeing, the purchase will support an estimated 400,000 jobs across the United States and will significantly boost the aircraft manufacturer’s production pipeline. Boeing's stock rose slightly following the announcement.

The aircraft order was one of several deals unveiled during President Trump’s visit, which saw the two nations announce bilateral trade and investment agreements worth more than $243 billion in total.

Trump, speaking at the signing ceremony, hailed the aviation pact as proof of his “dealmaker-in-chief” credentials, calling it “a win for American jobs, innovation, and global leadership.”

Qatar Airways Group CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said the acquisition reflects the airline’s commitment to global expansion and fleet modernisation.

“With this deal, Qatar Airways will become the largest operator of 787 Dreamliners in the Middle East, cementing our role as a world-class airline,” he noted.

In addition to the aircraft order, Qatar Airways also signed an engine deal with GE Aerospace for over 400 units, including 60 GE9X and 260 GEnx engines, along with spares and options.

The signing ceremony was attended by President Trump, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and top executives from Boeing and Qatar Airways.

The deal marks a new chapter in US-Qatar economic diplomacy, as both nations seek to deepen cooperation across key industries, including aviation, energy, and technology.

In other news, Trump’s administration has proposed cutting $555 million (about KSh 71 billion) in US contributions to the African Development Bank (AfDB).

This is part of the administration's broader rollback of foreign aid under the 2026 discretionary budget.

This move threatens critical financing for African countries, including Kenya, which relies on AfDB's support for projects like the Last Mile Connectivity Project, aiming to connect 150,000 new customers to the national grid.

The proposed cuts come at a time when many African nations face shrinking fiscal space and rising development needs, risking the scaling down of health, agriculture, infrastructure, and climate programs.

The decision, aligned with Trump’s “America First” foreign aid realignment, may also weaken US influence in Africa as rivals like China and the EU step up funding. Meanwhile, Kenya has dropped the IMF from its 2025/26 budget financing strategy, preferring loans from the World Bank and AfDB due to more flexible conditions.

Source: TUKO.co.ke