Tourexpi
Ethiopian Airlines to Expand Widebody Fleet with Up to 20 Boeing 777X Jets
Boeing [NYSE: BA]
and Ethiopian Airlines announced an agreement for the East African airline to
purchase eight 777-9 passenger airplanes and the potential for up to 12
additional jets.
Ethiopian Airlines' selection of 777-9 jets
positions the carrier as the first 777X customer in Africa and builds
on its landmark 2023 order for 11 787 Dreamliner and 20 737
MAX airplanes to modernize and grow its fleet.
"We are pleased to continue setting the trend
in African aviation by adopting cutting-edge technologies to enhance our
services and customer satisfaction. Improving our operational performance and
commitment to environmental sustainability, the 777-9 offers more flexibility,
reduced fuel consumption and carbon emissions," said Ethiopian Airlines
Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew. "We are grateful to Boeing for their
long-standing partnership and support, and we eagerly anticipate flying the
777-9 across the African skies and beyond."
Based on the 777 and with advanced technologies
from the 787 Dreamliner family, the 777-9 features new carbon-fiber composite
wings and engines that will enable the airplane to achieve 10% better fuel
efficiency and operating costs than the competition. The 777-9 will
support Ethiopian Airlines' plans to grow and renew its fleet in size, range
and passenger and cargo capacity to reach high-demand markets in Africa, Asia, Europe and North
America.
"Ethiopian Airlines marks yet another first in
our longstanding partnership by selecting the 777-9 to be the flagship of its
growing fleet," said Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of
Commercial Sales and Marketing. "Building on a relationship that goes back
75 years, we deeply value the unwavering trust and confidence Ethiopian
Airlines puts in our airplanes."
Boeing airplanes make up more than half of
Ethiopian Airlines' current fleet, including 29 787 Dreamliners, 20 777s, three
767s, 27 Next-Generation 737s and 15 737 MAX jets. Ethiopian Airlines and
Boeing continue to explore opportunities to further develop the country's
aerospace industry, including support for Ethiopian Airlines' MRO capabilities,
industrial development, training capabilities at the Ethiopian Aviation
University and STEM education, as well as equipping the Ethiopian Museum of
Science with aerospace exhibits.
Boeing's Commercial Market Outlook forecasts Africa's annual
air traffic growth at more than 7% through 2042 ─ the third-highest growth rate
among global regions and above the global average of approximately 6%.
Providing growth opportunities for airlines and offering enhanced features for
passengers, with a range of 13,510 km (7,295 nautical miles), the 777-9 enables
flights from Addis Ababa to as far as Seattle in the U.S.
Image
Credit: © Boeing
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