Ethiopian Airlines has announced that the they has ordered nine Boeing 787 Dreamliner airplanes.
The order comes in as demand for long-haul travel continues to rise, with the airline selecting the mid-sized variant – the Boeing 787-9 for its fleet expansion. Ethiopian Airlines will leverage the 787-9 jets to grow its route network, which currently serves 145 international destinations.
The airline’s latest 787 purchase follows its commitment for 11 737 MAX jets announced at the Dubai Airshow. Both orders were finalised in December 2025 and boost Ethiopian Airlines’ order book by a total of 20 Boeing aircraft.
Ethiopian Airlines operates the largest Boeing airplane fleet in Africa and has the continent’s largest backlog of 737 MAXs, 777X and 787 Dreamliner airplanes. The airline also operates the Airbus A350 family in its wide-body fleet, and the Dash 8 is its regional fleet.
The airlien operates Africa’s largest 787 Dreamliner fleet, flying its 787-8 and 787-9 jets on intercontinental routes from Addis Ababa to high-demand destinations across Europe, Asia and North America, as well as key intra-African routes spanning the world’s second-largest continent.
In Quotes
Mesfin Tasew, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO.
“We are pleased to confirm the order for nine Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft to further expand our existing fleet. This order underscores our continued commitment to enhancing our fleet with modern, fuel-efficient aircraft, thereby further strengthening our customer service,”
“We will continue to acquire more aircraft and adopt the latest technologies as part of our strategic vision to advance sustainable aviation.”
Anbessie Yitbarek, Boeing vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing for Africa.
“The 787 Dreamliner family has proven to be a game-changer for airlines around the world, and we are proud to support Ethiopian Airlines in their mission to connect Africa with the global community,”
“Together, we look forward to shaping the future of air travel with advanced, efficient and comfortable airplanes to serve their passengers.”
Extending the fleet
For Ethiopian Airlines they are continuing their dual-sourcing of their widebody fleet, with aircraft from both Boeing and Airbus.
Boeing has touted the capacity and efficiency of the 787 Dreamliner, which reduces fuel use and emissions by 25% compared to the airplanes it replaces, which enables Ethiopian Airlines to transport passengers point-to-point across Africa while accommodating cargo in the belly of the airplane for high-demand trade lanes.
With work starting on the airline’s new hub at Bishoftu International Airport, the new aircraft will be key to providing connectivity in future years.
Economy Class and Beyond is brought to you by Kevin. They provide a no-nonsense guide to aviation network news, passenger experience insights, honest reviews, in-depth coverage, unique research, as well as the humour and madness I only know how to deliver.
Our Social Media pool has expanded. You can find us across most networks as @economybeyond on BlueSky, Threads, Mastodon and Instagram!
Also, remember that we are part of the BoardingArea community, bringing you the latest frequent flyer news from around the world.
Leave a Reply