Qatar Airways has agreed to buy up to 50 of
Boeing Co.
’s new 777X freighter jets, the White House said Monday, with the carrier launching the plane during a boom in air cargo.
The agreement is a boost for Boeing’s newest big plane, whose development has faced delays, declining customer orders for the passenger model and regulatory snags amid airlines’ broader shift toward smaller jets designed to fly on longer, direct routes.
The 777X freighter deal is worth more than $20 billion, based on list prices for the passenger model that runs at more than $400 million a plane before customary discounts. Its engines are made by
General Electric Co.
The Qatar deal included 34 firm orders for the 777-8 freighters and rights to purchase 16…
