Skift Take
First among the big Gulf region airlines, and seventh in the world, the Qatar Dreamliner underlines the region growing significance in aviation.
Qatar Airways, the Middle East's second-largest carrier after Emirates, on Monday added a new chapter to "Stories of the Arabian Nights" after becoming the first aviation company in the region to acquire the ultimate flying machine so far from Boeing -- the 787 Dreamliner.
The carrier -- which has a wide-ranging portfolio of 110 planes and more than 250 aircraft on order, including Boeing's 777 and 787, and Airbus' A380 and A350 (launch customer) -- officially joined the Dreamliner club at a delivery ceremony held at one of the Boeing hangars in Seattle.
The event, attended by international media, diplomats, and jubilant executives from both the airline and plane maker -- people who made the 787 dream come true -- marked a milestone in the 15-year history of the Qatari flag carrier.
Qatar Airways, one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, has placed 30 firm Dreamliner orders with an option for 30 more and selected a General Electric engine. It completed the title transfer of 787 registration A7-BCB (MSN 38320) on October 5 and sent the carbon-composite jet to install the airline's connectivity modifications in California, despite a threat by chief executive Akbar Al Baker to put the delivery on hold until some "material defect" on the GE engines was sorted out. Sources said GE had since acted quickly to rectify the defects.
Addressing a Press conference before the delivery ceremony, Al Baker said
