Qatar Airways orders up to 100 Boeing jets valued up to $18.6 billion

Gulf carrier Qatar Airways ordered $18.6 billion worth of Boeing Co jetliners, a deal that includes firm orders for 40 widebody aircraft and options for 60 narrowbody 737 MAX 8 jets, Boeing and the airline said on Friday.

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

The deal includes 30 of Boeing's 787-9 Dreamliners, 10 of its 777-300ER aircraft plus the 737 MAX 8 options.

It is significantly larger than a deal 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 the Qatari government in an effort to speed up U.S. approval of its purchase of Boeing fighter jets, sources familiar with the situation said.

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

Boeing shares were down 0.8 percent at $133.40 in late morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange.