Ethiopian Airlines To Expand Boeing MAX Fleet, Evaluates Widebodies

DUBAI—In support of planned growth, Ethiopian Airlines has committed to purchase 11 additional Boeing 737-8s, while evaluating both Airbus and Boeing proposals for a widebody order it described as forthcoming.

The carrier may also firm existing options it holds for 787-9s—part of an order it placed in November 2023.

“We would like to confirm some 787-9 aircraft in the coming few weeks, we are finalizing the discussion with Boeing,” Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said Nov. 17 at the Dubai Airshow.

Additionally, Ethiopian is “actively evaluating” more widebody and narrowbody aircraft, he stated, which are orders the carrier hopes to place in the next 2-3 months.

“On the widebody aircraft we are evaluating both Boeing and Airbus aircraft,” Tasew said. On the narrowbody front, Ethiopian intends to continue “capitalizing” on 737-8s, he said. The 11 additional MAX aircraft announced here are based on prior options. Boeing and Ethiopian are now working to finalize the deal, the airframer confirmed.

“We need these airplanes to support our expansion,” Tasew said. “That means new destinations and increased frequencies.”

Ethiopian currently has 21 of the MAX variant in service, according to Aviation Week Network’s Fleet Discovery database, with another 30 on order.

“The Boeing-Ethiopian partnership spans almost 80 years,” noted Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice-president of commercial sales and marketing , in announcing the MAX order. “Ethiopian has purchased almost every model of Boeing aircraft over their history.”