State-owned Ethiopian Airlines has signed an agreement with Boeing to buy eight 777-9 passenger planes and the potential for up to 12 additional jets from the US planemaker, the two companies said on Tuesday, March 5.
“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,” Boeing said in a statement.
The airline’s CEO, Mesfin Tasew, said “improving our operational performance and commitment to environmental sustainability, the 777-9 offers more flexibility, reduced fuel consumption and carbon emissions”.
“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,” he added.
Boeing’s senior vice president of commercial sales and marketing, Brad McMullen, said the US company “deeply” valued “the unwavering trust and confidence Ethiopian Airlines puts in our airplanes.”
“Building on a relationship that goes back 75 years, we deeply value the unwavering trust and confidence Ethiopian Airlines puts in our airplanes,” McMullen said.
Ethiopian Airlines operates passenger and cargo flights across five continents.
Its fleet includes Boeing 737s, 777s, 787s, Airbus A35 and Bombardier Dash 8-400 double cabin 122.
