Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has placed an order for six new Airbus A350-900 aircraft and 11 Boeing 737-8 models as it aims to grow its flight ro...
Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has placed an order for six new Airbus A350-900 aircraft and 11 Boeing 737-8 models as it aims to grow its flight routes while reducing carbon emissions.The new orders will expand the Ethiopian flag carrier's fleet to 163 planes, reinforcing its position as Africa's biggest airline in terms of fleet size, while also greatly lowering the average age of its aircraft.
Once delivered, the A350 fleet will reach 32, positioning the Airbus aircraft as the second most significant in its operations. It will surpass the De Havilland Twin Otters and Dash 8s, which the airline primarily utilizes for regional and short-haul flights.
Its Boeing 737 fleet, the biggest in its operations, will grow to 47, with the 737-8 models specifically rising to 34.
Ethiopian Airlines places Africa's first Airbus A350-1000 order. The Airbus A350-900 is a wide-body plane that can carry as many as 352 passengers and is typically used for long-distance international flights. Ethiopian Airlines currently has 22 of these aircraft in service, along with four A350-1000s.
In the meantime, the Boeing 737-8 is a single-aisle plane that can carry as many as 189 travelers, primarily operating on short to medium-distance routes.
The inclusion of six A350-900 aircraft is a component of the airline's plan to update its fleet, but it also aims to decrease its environmental impact, according to CEO Mesfin Tasew, due to the improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions of the new planes.“This significant order reinforces our commitment to sustainable growth while offering an exceptional travel experience and enhancing our status as Africa's leading airline,” Mr. Mesfin stated during the signing at the Dubai Airshow on Tuesday.
As per Airbus, the next-generation A350-900 offers approximately 25 percent reduced fuel usage and carbon emissions in comparison to previous models, assisting in reducing emissions from one of the world's most significant sources of greenhouse gases. "The A350's advanced technology, efficiency, and adaptability will provide even more value to Ethiopian's operations," stated Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus' executive vice-president for commercial aircraft sales.
The new A350 order delivery schedules remain undisclosed, although Airbus had 878 orders waiting to be delivered by October, including 142 A350s, some of which have been delayed for more than two years.
At present, the A350-900 aircraft in ET's fleet have an average age of 6.2 years, making them typically newer than most planes in the airline's fleet, although they are generally older than the A350-1000s, which have an average age of only 10 months."The order [of the Boeing 737-8s] will help support our growth plans that we have outlined as part of our vision and strategy," Mr. Mesfin stated during the signing with Boeing for the additional 11 planes.
Ethiopian Airlines receives Africa's first Airbus A350-1000. Boeing has also not revealed anticipated delivery schedules for the new aircraft, but it too faces a significant backlog of unfulfilled orders—over 6,000 as of October. The sector is currently facing a serious shortage of plane engines and components, which is delaying timely deliveries.
Apart from ET, Emirates placed new orders for Boeing 777s, whereas Etihad, FlyDubai, and Air Europa ordered various Airbus aircraft, mostly wide-body models. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
