Ethiopian Airlines Group, the fastest-growing global airline brand and the continent’s largest airline has signed deals to purchase a total of 84 aircraft at the Dubai Airshow. Amidst the Airshow, Ethiopian has signed deals with aviation’s big names such as Boeing, Airbus, and Rolls-Royce for aircraft purchase, and engine total care service.
Ethiopian has agreed to order 11 787 Dreamliners and 20 737 MAX aircraft with an opportunity for 15 and 21 additional jets, respectively from Boeing, making the total order of 67 aircraft with Boeing. It has also committed to buy 11 additional Airbus A350-900s with six more purchase rights. The total deal for 84 aircraft purchases is worth USD 23 billion at List Price.
Ethiopian Airlines has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Rolls-Royce for a comprehensive Total Care service agreement for 22 Trent XWB-84 engines that exclusively power the Airbus A350-900 aircraft.
Commenting on the deals Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew said, “We are pleased to reach a deal with both Boeing and Airbus for the purchase of these additional 84 airplanes. The Boeing 787-9, 737 -8 and the Airbus A350-900 aircraft models have been in the ET fleet for several years now and have demonstrated the highest level of passenger comfort, operational reliability and reduced operational cost. This order is consistent with our long-term fleet renewal and expansion plan. As a customer-focused airline, we are particularly excited to boost our fleet with these ultra-modern aircraft that ensure a convenient and memorable onboard experience for our esteemed passengers, while being environmentally friendly with reduced carbon footprint.”
Ethiopian Airlines currently operates more than 140 young and ultra-modern aircraft to its 133 destinations across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas. The agreements Ethiopian has made at the Dubai Airshow set the airline in motion to achieve its strategic goal by 2035.
Ethiopian Airlines Group (Ethiopian) is the fastest-growing airline brand globally and the continent’s largest airline brand. In its seventy-seven years of successful operations, Ethiopian, the fastest-growing airline, has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success. In addition to its main hub in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, it is also pursuing its multi-hub strategy through a hub in Lomé, Togo with ASKY, in Lilongwe, Malawi with Malawi Airlines and in Lusaka, Zambia with Zambia Airways. Ethiopian commands the lion’s share of the African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 150 domestic and international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents. Ethiopian’s fleet category consists of ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Boeing 737s, 777s, 787s, Airbus A350-900 and Bombardier Dash 8-400 double cabins with an average fleet age of seven years. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate most of these aircraft.
Having achieved its strategic plan (Vision 2025) ahead of time, Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2035 that will see it become one of the top 20 most competitive and leading aviation groups in the world by providing safe, secure, market-driven and customer-focused Passenger and Cargo Transport and Logistics, Aviation Training, Airport Management and Ground Services, MRO and Aerospace Manufacturing and Travel and Tourism Services. As a multi-award-winning airline, Ethiopian has been the champion in various coveted awards including Skytrax’s ‘Best Airline in Africa Award’ for six consecutive years among others. The airline has been a Star Alliance member since 2011 and has been registering more than threefold growth in the past 10 years.
