Addis Ababa, November 14, 2013 (Addis Ababa) Ethiopian Airlines (EA) announced today a record-high aircraft order agreement with Boeing Company at the Dubai Air Show.
The national flag carrier placed a historical landmark order of 67 aircraft, the largest-ever purchase in African aviation history.
Africa’s largest aviation group, Ethiopian Airlines announced that it has agreed to order the modern 11 787-Dreamliner and 20 737 MAX aircraft with an opportunity for 15 and 21 additional aircraft respectively.
Concerning the new deal, the airline’s Group CEO, Mesfin Tasew said, “We are pleased to announce that Ethiopian Airlines has reached a deal with Boeing to place a firm order for 31 ultra-modern airplanes, with the opportunity for 36 additional jets,”
He also underscored that the order will enable EA to modernize and increase its fleet which will help to realize Ethiopian Airlines’ growth plan and its Vision 2035 Strategy.
The new deal enables the airline to provide state-of-the-art services to its passengers with technologically advanced aircraft. “The 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX demonstrate Ethiopian Airlines’ environmentally conscious decisions and its commitment to serve passengers with the latest technologically advanced airplanes,” Mesfine added.
At the event, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing, Brad McMullen, said, “Ethiopian Airlines continues its leadership as one of Africa’s preeminent airlines with this landmark commitment to expand their 787 and 737 MAX fleets.”
The latest Dreamliner variants EA ordered are said to reduce fuel use and carbon emission by 20 percent and 50 percent less noise footprint compared with its predecessors.
The new agreement with Boeing places Ethiopian Airlines to further strengthen and diversify its fleet, which currently includes more than 80 Boeing jets.
The new 737 MAX order, which will raise the airline’s backlog for the fuel-efficient jet to 50, according to the airlines.
