ST PETERSBURG, Russia- Qatar Airways is weighing a multibillion-dollar investment with a potential order for 30 or more freighters, attracting interest from Boeing BA.N , which has begun offering a freight version of its future 777X jetliner, the airline's chief executive said.

In April, the Gulf carrier said it was interested in a 777X freighter but had not been told by Boeing of any plans to launch one. But speaking to Reuters on Thursday, Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said a cargo 777X was now on the table as the airline ponders a freighter order from Boeing BA.N or Airbus AIR.PA .

Boeing was not immediately available for comment.

(Reporting by Ekaterina Golubkova, Gleb Stolyarov in St Petersburg, Editing by Tim Hepher and David Evans) ((tim.hepher@thomsonreuters.com; +33 1 49 49 54 52; Reuters Messaging: tim.hepher.thomsonreuters@reuters.net))