Ethiopian Airlines has announced the acquisition of six additional Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, converting options into firm orders to support the expansion of its long-haul network.
This decision brings its recent commitments for the 787 to 26 aircraft, after an order in January including nine 787-9s and 11 737 MAXs. Deliveries will begin in 2028, according to CEO Mesfin Tasew.
As the largest operator of the 787 in Africa, the group plans to increase frequencies to Europe, Asia, and North America, while opening new routes, including to Australia, and strengthening some high-demand African routes.
“Some routes remained unexploited due to lack of aircraft,” said Tasew, citing increasing demand for long-haul flights.
Meanwhile, Ethiopian Airlines continues to build a new airport in Bishoftu ($12.5 billion), scheduled for completion in 2030 with a capacity of 60 million passengers, compared to the current hub nearing capacity. Financing includes the African Development Bank ($500 million) and other international partners.
The company reported a 14% increase in its half-year revenue, reaching $4.4 billion, in the first six months of its fiscal year starting in July. This growth, driven by network expansion and fleet strengthening, exceeds the average of the African aviation sector, which has generally been below 10% since the pandemic.
