Jeff Johnson: upbeat
By Ross Jackson/Staff Reporter

Boeing said that the first Middle East delivery of the new 787 Dreamliner is set for Qatar Airways in the second quarter of 2012.
Jeff Johnson, Boeing president (Mena Region), yesterday said: “We had some challenges with technology and with our supply chain, but we just rolled out our first airplane for All Nippon Airways. We are going to deliver (777s) here next month, in the next quarter, and then start the deliveries of the 787, with technology that will change air travel.”
In November last year, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al-Baker is reported to have said that Boeing had “very clearly failed” in their attempts to deliver the new aircraft, and was considering buying more Airbus A380s.
Qatar Airways is awaiting the delivery of 30 787s in the coming years.
Johnson played down any friction with the airline. “I think we’re doing well, we earned back respect with the 777 performance and we’re going to deliver the 787s. I think we’re very excited about what Qatar Airways is today, and what they’re going to be as Boeing is part of the partnership.”
This year Qatar Airways have ordered eight more 777s, in addition to the two set to be delivered in the next few months.
Etihad has also placed an order for four more 777s, which has been established as a workhorse of the region’s commercial airline industry.
“Look at Emirates,” Johnson explained. “They just took delivery of their 90th airplane. They have all five configurations of 777, and what do we see them doing…they’re going to go down to a two aircraft fleet. So they’re going to get rid of their other airplanes and have 777s, and their other airplane, before they get rid of their oldest 777. So that says something.”
Emirates is currently the top purchaser of the Boeing 777. Johnson expects incremental buys of 777s by the regions top airlines in the coming years, simply because the plane “goes anywhere you want to go.”
Qatar has about 25-30 Boeing aircraft in their inventory, and have a total of around 60 aircraft, including 777s and 787s, delivered and on order. 
Boeing predicts that a total of 33,500 aircraft will be bought globally over the next 20 years, with a total market value of $4tn.
In the Middle East, Boeing predicts over 3,500 airplanes will be purchased, with a regional growth of around 150%.
Johnson added that in the last 10 years, Qatar Airways, Etihad and Emirates have grown 25%, with international traffic in the region growing 18% in 2010 alone.