Qatar Airways signs deal for 40 Boeing jets

Qatar Airways has ordered 40 Boeing Co widebody jets, valued at US $11.7 billion, and signed a letter of intent for up to 60 narrowbody 737 MAX 8 jets, worth $6.9 billion, Boeing and the airline have said.

The agreement for up to 100 jetliners, potentially worth $18.6 billion helps fill out Boeing's order book in a year when sales have slowed sharply, and amid tough price competition with European rival Airbus.

Meanwhile, Iran has also tabled an offer with the airplane manufacturer as it moves closer to completing a deal of its 100 aircrafts.

The deal marked a key commitment by Qatar Airways to Boeing's new 737 MAX jetliner, after it refused to accept three of Airbus' competing A320 aircraft earlier this year. Qatar has not ordered 737s previously.

The deal for 30 of Boeing's 787-9 Dreamliners and 10 of its 777-300ER aircraft is significantly larger than an order for five Boeing 777-300ER aircraft worth $1.7 billion that the carrier had been expected to place during Britain's Farnborough Airshow in July.

That announcement was postponed by Qatar in an effort to speed up US approval of its purchase of Boeing fighter jets, sources familiar with the situation said.

The orders announced on Friday are worth $11.7 billion at list prices, with an additional list value of $6.9 billion if all of the 737 MAX jets are purchased. Airlines typically receive steep discounts on large orders.