Ethiopian Airlines Group, the largest airline in Africa, has signed a landmark deal with Boeing to purchase up to 67 new aircraft, representing the largest order ever placed with Boeing by an African carrier.
The agreement signed at the Dubai Airshow sees Ethiopian place a firm order for 11 Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 20 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The carrier has also secured purchase rights for an additional 15 787s and 21 737 MAX planes.
The 11 787 Dreamliner and 20 737 MAX planes with a list price of more than $5.6 billion are part of the airline's expansion plans, according to group CEO Mesfin Tasew.
"We are pleased to announce that Ethiopian Airlines has reached a deal with Boeing to place a firm order for 31 ultra-modern airplanes, with opportunity for 36 additional jets," said Mesfin. "This order will enable us to modernize and increase our fleet in support of Ethiopian Airlines’ growth plan and our Vision 2035 Strategy. Through this deal, we have solidified our decades-old exemplary business partnership with Boeing.
The 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX demonstrate Ethiopian Airlines’ environmentally conscious decisions and its commitment to serve passengers with the latest technologically advanced airplanes, according to the CEO.
The 787-9 Dreamliner and 737-8 MAX models ordered by Ethiopian provide up to 25% and 20% better fuel efficiency respectively compared to the aircraft they replace.
Boeing and Ethiopian will also collaborate on retrofitting existing 787 cabins with new seats and amenities to enhance the passenger experience. Ethiopian was the first African carrier to operate the 787 Dreamliner and currently has the largest Dreamliner fleet in Africa. This deal positions the airline for continued growth, supported by the strong forecast demand in Africa where passenger traffic is expected to rise 7.4% annually until 2042.
Brad McMullen, Boeing's Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing, stated that Ethiopian Airlines continues to demonstrate leadership as one of Africa's preeminent carriers with this expansion of their 787 and 737 fleets.
With a fleet of 140 aircraft covering 100 destinations, Ethiopian Airlines is already Africa's biggest carrier.
