ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopian Airlines has entered into an agreement to purchase eight Boeing (NYSE:BA) 777-9 airplanes, with the option to acquire up to 12 additional jets, marking the airline as the first in Africa to order the 777X model. This deal follows the airline's significant order in 2023 for 11 787 Dreamliner and 20 737 MAX aircraft, as part of its fleet modernization and expansion strategy.
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Mr. Mesfin Tasew, expressed the airline's commitment to enhancing service and customer satisfaction through the adoption of advanced technologies. The 777-9's design, which incorporates features from the 787 Dreamliner, offers improvements in fuel efficiency and reduced carbon emissions, aligning with the airline's operational performance goals and environmental sustainability efforts.
Boeing's senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing, Brad McMullen, acknowledged the longstanding partnership with Ethiopian Airlines, which dates back 75 years. He noted the 777-9 would serve as the flagship of the airline's growing fleet.
The 777-9 is expected to support Ethiopian Airlines' ambitions to increase its reach and capacity, targeting high-demand markets across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America. Boeing's Commercial Market Outlook forecasts Africa's air traffic growth to exceed 7% annually through 2042, highlighting the potential for expansion within the region. With a range of 13,510 km, the 777-9 can enable non-stop flights from Addis Ababa to destinations as distant as Seattle, U.S.
More than half of Ethiopian Airlines' current fleet comprises Boeing aircraft, including 29 787 Dreamliners, 20 777s, and 15 737 MAX jets. The partnership between Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines extends beyond aircraft acquisition, involving the development of the country's aerospace industry, including maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities, industrial development, and educational initiatives.
This fleet expansion aligns with Ethiopian Airlines' Vision 2035 strategic plan, aiming to position the airline among the world's top competitive aviation groups. The information for this article is based on a press release statement.
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