Qatar Airways has placed a $501m order for two Boeing 777 aircraft with the option to buy three more.

The carrier’s chief executive Akbar al-Baker announced the deal at the Farnborough Airshow.

The deal now means Qatar Airways has firm orders for 10 Boeing 777 wide-body jets.

Qatar Airways already operates six 777-200LRs and 11 777-300ERs and two 777 Freighters.

The carrier is also expected to take delivery of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in the first quarter next year.

It has 30 Dreamliners on order and is hoping to accelerate delivery in order to achieve its aim to serve 120 destinations by 2013.

Qatar Airways also finalised a $120m deal for three Bombardier business jets this week (MEED 19:7:10).