Qatar Airways firms up order for 20 737 jets, further options dependent on Italy, India

Qatar Airways has firmed up an order for 20 Boeing 737 MAX jets and is awaiting the outcome of possible expansion in Italy and India before deciding whether to exercise further options, the carrier's CE said Monday. Qatar Airways signed a letter of intent for up to 60 narrowbody 737 MAX 8 jets, worth US$6.9b at list prices, last year. "We have another 40 options and purchase rights, which we could exercise depending on the way forward with both Meridiana and our Indian carrier," Akbar Al Baker said Monday. Qatar Airways has been in talks over a stake in Meridiana and is planning to set up a domestic airline in India. Al Baker also said Qatar Airways was not interested in larger variants of the 737 MAX because it was ordering A321neo jets. <br/>