After giving $400M Boeing 747 to USA, Qatari royal family still has more planes than most small airlines

The Qatari royal family just gave the United States a $400 million Boeing 747.

And it was exactly that – a gift.

The jet is a flying palace, think five lounges, 40 televisions, and a grand staircase.

But don’t worry, the royals aren’t grounded; they still have a fleet that would make most airlines jealous.

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The Qatari royal family’s private airline, Qatar Amiri Flight, is no ordinary fleet.

It’s a government-run VIP service established in 1977 to provide secure, luxurious air transport for the royal family and high-ranking officials.

The service started with a modest fleet of early Boeing 707s and 727s.

Now, it has a collection of aircraft that rivals the most powerful air forces in terms of opulence and sophistication.

So, what kind of aircraft does Qatar Amiri Flight own?

Well, besides the Boeing 747-8 that was gifted to the US, the royal family still has two Boeing 747-8 Boeing Business Jets, each valued between $350 to $400 million.

Often described as ‘palaces in the sky’, they are reserved for Qatar’s ruler, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his immediate family.

The family includes some of the richest people in the world, collectively controlling wealth exceeding $335 billion.

And there are plenty of wealthy people within the country, too, given how it has driving schools offering lessons in $300,000 Rolls-Royce Ghosts.

In addition, the fleet also includes an Airbus A340-500, an ultra-long-range aircraft that is no longer in commercial production.

While the A340-500 would normally seat around 300 passengers, the royal family customized its interior to fit just 50 passengers.

Naturally, with the extra space, it includes amenities like sleeping quarters, shower facilities, and a private office.

The fleet also contains two smaller jets, in the form of the Airbus A330-200, each capable of seating up to 60 passengers.

These are usually reserved for high-ranking ministers or secondary royal family members, and are valued at about $240 million.

For shorter trips, Qatar Amiri Flight uses one Airbus A319-100, and one A320-200, both configured as Airbus Corporate Jets.

Decked out in luxury seating for up to 19 passengers, these are the perfect planes for shorter trips.

The fleet also contains a Gulfstream G700, which is often considered the world’s most advanced private jet.

It’s capable of flying 7,500 nautical miles nonstop. And it does that in style, with four living areas and panoramic windows.

Lastly, Qatar Amiri Flight also owns a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, which is actually a heavy-lift military transport.

It is operated on behalf of the Qatar Emiri Air Force, and plays an important role in rapid-response deployments, humanitarian missions, and discreet cargo transfers.

While it may not seem as luxurious as its other counterparts, the plane is anything but cheap, costing a cool $250 million.

At the end of the day, even after their generous gift, it’s clear that the Qatari royal family isn’t hurting for jets.

In fact, this is not the first time they’ve given away jets; just look at the jumbo jet they offered to Turkey back in 2018.

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