Trump’s Visit Spurs GE Aerospace’s Largest Engine Deal in Company History

Qatar Airways submitted the largest widebody engine order in GE Aerospace’s history during President Trump’s visit to Doha, Qatar: Over 400 engines will be supplied, including 60 GE9X engines, 260 GEnx engines, and additional options and spare units. The order, comprised of two separate deals, also includes maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) service agreements for the supplied engines.

“We are honored to deepen our relationship with Qatar Airways and grateful to them for placing their trust in us with our largest-ever widebody engine deal,” said H. Lawrence Culp Jr., GE Aerospace Chairman and CEO. “Our widebody engines—the GE9X and GEnx—are examples of modern engineering, with the durability and reliability to power flight across the longest distances. We appreciate President Trump’s support for this agreement.”

Qatar Airways will install these engines on Boeing 777-9 and Boeing 787 aircraft, adding to previous orders of 188 GE9X engines and 124 GEnx engines. With these deals, the company increases its total to 248 GE9X engines and 384 GEnx engines, bolstering Qatar’s aviation industry through improved efficiency, performance, and availability.

GEnx engine; image credit: GE Aerospace

Per the agreements, GE Aerospace will also execute on-wing support to deliver optimized engine performance and reduced downtime for Qatar Airways’ Boeing fleet. The MRO work will be conducted at GE Aerospace’s On-Wing Support Center in Qatar, where the company also trains aviation professionals, develops local talent, and builds regional support for the aviation industry.

“Our latest agreement with GE Aerospace reflects our confidence in the performance of the GE9X and GEnx engines to power our fleet of Boeing 777-9 and 787 aircraft,” said Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, Qatar Airways Group CEO. “These next-generation engines are critical components in our strategy to ensure our fleet remains modern and efficient. Qatar Airways has plans for the future, and we value our continued partnership with GE Aerospace and their commitment to supporting our operational needs.”

GE Aerospace in the News

Last week, GE Aerospace concluded durability testing on its next-generation high-pressure turbine (HPT) airfoil technologies, specifically the blades and nozzle, executing over 3,000 endurance-test cycles under an initiative to develop a new compact aviation engine core. HPT testing revealed better durability and fuel efficiency than traditional aero turbine technology, which aligns with key requirements in the aviation industry.

In addition, the endurance testing replicated high-thrust takeoff and ascension to evaluate component durability during high-stress flight conditions. Next, GE Aerospace will perform dust-ingestion testing to assess the performance and behavior of hot-section blades in harsh conditions. Previously, the company tested its HPT hardware for thermal, mechanical, and overall system performance.

In early March 2025, the United States’ Federal Aviation Administration, during the Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 33 certification process, certified GE Aerospace’s Catalyst turboprop engine. The FAR program evaluated more than 23 test engines and conducted over 190 component tests, with the Catalyst engine completing approximately 8,000 operating hours to satisfy performance targets. It was designed, developed, and manufactured by a GE Aerospace subsidiary: Avio Aero. The manufacturing sites across Europe include Italy, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany.