Qatar Airways in queue for five Boeing 777 freighters

Qatar Airways this week signed a letter of intent with aircraft manufacturer Boeing to purchase five 777 freighters valued at $1.7 billion.

   Qatar Airways this week signed a letter of intent with Boeing to purchase five 777 freighters valued at $1.7 billion. 
   “The addition of five 777 freighters is a significant moment for our cargo division,” Akbar Al Baker, the airlines group CEO, said in a statement. “As the world’s third-largest cargo operator, Qatar Airways continues to invest in fleet expansion.”
   Qatar Airways currently operates a fleet of nearly 100 Boeing planes and has about 100 more on order with the aircraft manufacturer.
   The 777 freighter is capable of flying 4,900 nautical miles with a payload of 112 tons. “The airplane’s long range translates into significant savings as fewer stops mean lower landing fees, less congestion, lower cargo handling costs and shorter delivery times,” Boeing said.