Paul Kinscherff, Boeing's President for the Middle East, said his company will soon have a full-fledged facility in Qatar.
"Currently, Boeing is operating from Dubai, but given the circumstances, opening a full-fledged office in Qatar has become a necessity, and it is going to become a reality soon," Kinscherff said, quoted by Qatar Tribune daily.
Asked about the 'circumstances', he said that the number of Boeing aircraft in Qatar had gone up substantially in the recent past and the trend was expected to continue.
Qatar Airways, the country's national carrier, received 8 Boeing 777 aircraft this year, and more are in the pipeline.
"Given the massive investment made by Qatar Airways in planes, there is an urgent need of field infrastructure for the upkeep of aircraft," said Kinscherff. "You cannot keep your aircraft stranded for a long time. That is basic economics. It has to remain airworthy to make profits but that needs manpower and spares for its upkeep," he told the daily in Doha.
According to Kinscherff, Qatar Airways, which has also placed orders for Boeing's Dreamliner 787, is well poised for a massive growth in the aviation sector.
The Dreamliner 787 is expected to make its commercial debut in the first quarter of 2011.
Even though Qatar Airways is Boeing's leading customer in Qatar, the country has also bought a couple of the massive tactical airlifter C-17 Globemaster III produced by the company.
In comments on whether Boeing was interested in selling fighter aircraft like F-16s and F-18s to Qatar, Kinscherff said it was for the two governments to decide.
"This is an altogether different ball game. For military planes, the decision has to be taken by the American Senate. There is continued interest in tactical aircraft, rotorcraft and strategic airlift in the region," he said.