Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar al-Baker toured the Boeing factory in Everett, Washington on Tuesday with Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and chief executive officer Kevin McAllister.
Highlighting a relationship that spans more than a decade, the visit provided al-Baker and visiting guests with the opportunity to view Boeing’s 777X, the manufacturer’s latest-generation aircraft for which Qatar Airways is a global launch customer.
Building on the passenger-preferred and market-leading 777, the Boeing 777X is the largest and most efficient twin-engine jet in the world, incorporating 787 Dreamliner technologies and new advances to redefine the total passenger experience featuring a wider cabin, larger windows and enhanced architecture.
Al-Baker said, “Our relationship with Boeing is testament to the fact that Qatar Airways is continuing to grow at a record pace. We are tremendously proud of our relationship with Boeing, and our visit is further evidence of our commitment to expanding our fleet to include the most technologically-advanced and efficient aircraft on the market. We are especially pleased to have had this opportunity to view the Boeing 777X, and are very proud to be a global launch customer for this product.”
McAllister said, “Boeing is proud of its long-standing relationship with Qatar Airways and the confidence that the airline has consistently shown in our aircraft. We are honoured to host Qatar Airways at the Everett factory and to have the opportunity to share an up-close look at the 777X, which will be the largest and most efficient twin-engine jet in the world when it enters revenue service in 2020.”
On Tuesday, Qatar Airways also took delivery of two Boeing 777 freighters, a further sign of the airline’s continued investment in its fleet and commitment to securing its position as the world’s leading cargo carrier.
Qatar Airways was the first airline to operate the Boeing 787 in the Middle East. In 2016, the airline placed a record $18.6bn order for 30 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and 10 777-300ERs.
Qatar Airways has developed strong relationships with its US partners, including Boeing, GE, and Gulfstream, who have been instrumental in helping the airline achieve the award-winning, high-quality product for which it is renowned. 
Large portions of the airline’s fleet are powered by engines made by US manufacturers. Additionally, US firms are major suppliers to Qatar Airways, which spent $6.1bn on US products in 2016 alone.
Qatar Airways serves 10 cities across the US including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC.