Qatar announces deal to buy 50 Airbus planes

The agreement was one of a series of deals worth billions of euros announced during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Thursday 7 December 2017 12:54, UK

An Airbus A321 neo flies during a flying display at the first day of the 52nd Paris Air Show at Le Bourget airport near Paris, France June 19, 2017
Image: An Airbus A321 neo flies during a flying display at the first day of the 52nd Paris Air Show at Le Bourget airport near Paris, France June 19, 2017
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Qatar is to buy 50 Airbus a321neo planes with an option for a further 30.

The deal was one of several announced on Thursday during a state visit to Qatar by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Qatar also said it would buy 12 French-built Rafale fighter jets.

It comes as the emirate remains under a trade and diplomatic boycott by neighbouring countries.

Also announced was the award of a contract to a French rail consortium to build and operate the metro in the Qatari capital Doha, and the purchase of 490 armoured vehicles from defence firm Nexter.

FILE PHOTO: The logo of Airbus Group is seen on the company's headquarters building in Toulouse, Southwestern France, April 18, 2017.
Image: Airbus is based in Toulouse

Mr Macron said the contracts signed with Qatar were worth a total €12bn.

Airbus, headquartered in France, employs 6,000 people at its wing assembly plant in Broughton, north Wales, and also has a production site in Bristol.

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Last month it announced its biggest ever deal, when it signed a memorandum of understanding to sell 430 jets to Indigo Partners, the company behind four airlines, including Hungary's WizzAir.

That deal had a headline price of $49.5bn and was seen as helping it catch up after recently lagging behind US rival Boeing.