The airline currently houses eight long-range Boeing 777-200LRs, 15 777-300ERs and two 777 freighters. In early April, Qatar Airways added its 25th Boeing 777 to its fleet.

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker believes this purchase will have strong implications for his company. “Qatar Airways has made a significant commitment to the 777, an airplane which has become the flagship of our fleet,” Baker said in a statement. “The capacity of the Boeing 777 freighter is unrivaled, and its economics make it an attractive addition to our fleet.”

Akbar Al Baker

Baker stated that it’s also the right time to add more cargo capacity to his airline. “As the state of Qatar and other parts of the region are growing at a phenomenal pace, we are well positioned to take advantage of this growth,” he remarked.

According to Qatar Airlines, the agreement was made on the sidelines of the Business and Investment in Qatar Forum, held recently in New York. Sheikh Hamad, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray Lahood and U.S. Ambassador to Qatar Joseph LeBaron all attended the forum.