Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier, has ordered nine Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft as it moves to meet rising demand for long-haul travel.
- Ethiopian Airlines has ordered nine Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft to enhance its long-haul fleet in response to rising international travel demand.
- This order aims to support the airline’s global network expansion, currently servicing more than 145 international destinations.
- Boeing, facing production and delivery challenges, remains a critical supplier for Ethiopian Airlines, with longstanding ties spanning 75 years.
- The airline has also completed its purchase of 11 Boeing 737 MAX aeroplanes, signalling continued modernisation of its aircraft fleet.
Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier, has ordered nine Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft as it moves to meet rising demand for long-haul travel, the airline and the U.S. plane maker said on Tuesday.
Airlines worldwide have increased their purchases of wide-body jets as international travel rebounds and operators seek more fuel-efficient aircraft to manage higher costs and capacity pressures.
Ethiopian Airlines said the 787-9 Dreamliners will support the expansion of its global network, which currently spans more than 145 international destinations, according to Reuters.
“We will continue to acquire more aircraft and adopt the latest technologies as part of our strategic vision to advance sustainable aviation,” CEO Mesfin Tasew said on Tuesday.
The airline also confirmed it has completed the purchase of 11 Boeing 737 MAX narrowbody aircraft, an order it initially committed to during the Dubai Airshow last year.
Delivery bottlenecks slow fleet growth
However, Ethiopian Airlines has faced delivery delays from Boeing in recent years, despite pushing ahead with an ambitious expansion strategy. The carrier has more than 100 aircraft on order with the U.S. manufacturer, but deliveries have fallen behind schedule.
Boeing has been hit by a series of challenges, including production slowdowns, heightened regulatory scrutiny, financial pressures and labour strikes, disrupting aircraft supply to key customers such as Ethiopian Airlines.
Despite these setbacks, the two companies maintain a long-standing relationship spanning nearly 75 years. Boeing aircraft account for roughly half of Ethiopian Airlines’ fleet, including 29 787 Dreamliners, 20 777s, three 767s, 27 Next-Generation 737s and 15 737 MAX jets.
Looking ahead, the airline expects a significant influx of new widebody aircraft from Boeing and Airbus between now and 2030, a delivery wave it hopes will realign its fleet expansion plans.
