Últimas Noticias de Aviación Comercial

Ethiopian Airlines Orders Nine Additional Boeing 787 Dreamliners

Dergam Mousa

Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest airline, has announced a new order for nine Boeing 787 Dreamliners, a move that reinforces its long‑haul growth strategy and solidifies its position as one of the world’s most significant operators of the 787 program.

The agreement comes amid growing demand for intercontinental travel and will allow the Ethiopian carrier to expand and optimize an international network that already reaches 145 destinations outside Ethiopia.

An order that adds to a larger fleet offensive

The purchase of the nine 787s follows a previous commitment for 11 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, announced during the Dubai Airshow. Both orders were finalized in December 2025, raising Ethiopian Airlines’ order book by a combined 20 new‑generation Boeing aircraft.

Ethiopian Airlines already operates the largest Boeing fleet in Africa and also holds the continent’s largest order portfolio for the 737 MAX, 777X, and 787 Dreamliner—a clear signal of its long‑term alignment with the U.S. manufacturer.

→ Ethiopian Airlines to Expand Network in France with New Route to Lyon Starting in July

The 787-9 as a pillar of intercontinental growth

The new aircraft correspond to the 787‑9 variant, a model Ethiopian Airlines uses intensively on intercontinental routes from its Addis Ababa hub to Europe, Asia, and North America, as well as on high‑density intra‑African markets.

From an operational standpoint, the Dreamliner offers a key combination of range, capacity, and efficiency, enabling the airline to operate point‑to‑point routes with a more competitive cost structure. Boeing highlights that the 787 achieves a 25% reduction in fuel consumption and emissions compared to the aircraft it replaces, a central factor for both profitability and the industry’s environmental goals.

In addition to passenger traffic, Ethiopian Airlines makes intensive use of the aircraft’s lower‑deck cargo capacity, especially on high‑demand commercial corridors—a key element in its combined passenger‑cargo business model.

Statements reflecting a long‑term vision

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew emphasized that this new order reaffirms the company’s commitment to a modern and efficient fleet: “This order underscores our continued commitment to enhancing our fleet with modern, fuel‑efficient aircraft, further strengthening our customer service. We will continue to acquire more aircraft and adopt the latest technologies as part of our strategic vision to drive sustainable aviation.”

From Boeing, Anbessie Yitbarek, Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing for Africa, highlighted the 787’s role as a catalyst for global connectivity, noting that the Dreamliner program has been a true game‑changer for airlines.

The Dreamliner’s impact on the global network

Since its entry into service in 2011, the 787 family has enabled airlines to open more than 520 new non‑stop routes between city pairs that had never before been connected, carrying over 1 billion passengers worldwide.

For Ethiopian Airlines, this track record is not just a statistic but an operational validation. The airline has used the Dreamliner as a key tool to position Addis Ababa as an intercontinental hub, connecting Africa with the rest of the world with greater frequency and efficiency.

Exit mobile version