Africa’s largest carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, on Monday said it is buying six additional Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner jets as it looks to expand its long-haul flights across Africa and to the US, Europe, and Asia.
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew told Reuters after a signing ceremony at Boeing’s headquarters near Washington it was converting six options to firm orders after previously ordering 20 new 787s, including nine in January.
Tasew said the company would begin receiving the 26 787s in 2028.
“There are mature routes we need,” he said, including some in Africa where Ethiopian Airlines would like to fly larger airplanes.
“There are routes that we wanted to fly, but we couldn’t because of a shortage of airplanes—like to Australia.”
Construction of Africa’s biggest airport
The ceremony was attended by members of the Donald Trump administration, who have made boosting US exports of Boeing planes a priority.
Tasew also discussed with US officials in Washington his company’s $12.5-billion (R204-billion) construction project that is expected to be Africa’s biggest airport when completed in 2030 in the town of Bishoftu.
“The new airport will have a capacity of 60-million passengers with all the latest ultramodern facilities,” Tasew said. “We want this airport to be the Dubai of Africa or the Istanbul of Africa.”
The state-owned airline got the contract to design the four-runway airport in the town located around 45km southeast of Addis Ababa. Construction commenced in January.
The new facility will have more than four times the capacity of Ethiopia’s current main airport, which will reach its limits on existing traffic in the next two to three years.
Lenders include the African Development Bank, which in August said it would lend $500-million and lead efforts to raise $8.7-billion.
“We are pleased with the response from US financial institutions,” Tasew said. “Several of them have expressed interest in participating.”
- Ethiopian Airlines is purchasing six additional Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, converting options to firm orders, expanding its total 787s to 26 starting deliveries in 2028.
- The airline aims to use these aircraft to grow long-haul flights within Africa and to the US, Europe, Asia, and new destinations like Australia.
- Ethiopian Airlines is leading a $12.5 billion project to build Africa's largest airport in Bishoftu, Ethiopia, expected to be completed by 2030 with a 60-million passenger capacity.
- The new airport will feature four runways and ultramodern facilities, designed to become a major continental hub similar to Dubai or Istanbul.
- Funding involves lenders like the African Development Bank contributing $500 million and efforts to raise $8.7 billion, with interest also from US financial institutions.
Africa's largest carrier,
Tasew said the company would begin receiving the 26 787s in 2028.
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Tasew also discussed with US officials in
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"We are pleased with the response from US financial institutions," Tasew said. "Several of them have expressed interest in participating."
