Ethiopian Airlines Group has signed deals to purchase a total of 84 aircraft at the Dubai Airshow. Amidst the Airshow, Ethiopian has signed deals with the 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 Dreamliner and 20 737 MAX airplanes with an opportunity for 15 and 21 additional jets, respectively, from Boeing, making the total order size with Boing to 67 aircraft. It has also committed to buy 11 additional Airbus A350-900s with six more purchase rights. The total deal for 84 aircraft purchase is worth USD 23 billion at List Price, the airline stated.
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 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 airplanes that ensure a convenient and memorable onboard experience to 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, Middle East, Asia and the Americas, noting that the agreements Ethiopian has made on the Dubai Airshow sets the airline on motion to achieving its strategic goal by 2035. Ethiopian is the fastest-growing global airline brand and the continent’s largest airline.
In addition to its main hub in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the airline said 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.
Having achieved its strategic plan (Vision 2025) ahead of time, Ethiopian said it 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, secured, 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.
