Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines have announced a new order that further reinforces the position of Africa’s largest airline in the long-haul market. Ethiopian Airlines has ordered nine widebody 787 Dreamliner aircraft, specifically the 787-9 variant, which it plans to deploy to expand its international route network further.
The new order follows a previously confirmed purchase of 11 737 MAX aircraft announced at the Dubai Airshow. Both transactions were finalized in December 2025, increasing Ethiopian Airlines’ order book by a total of 20 new Boeing aircraft within a short period and underscoring the carrier’s ambitious growth and fleet-modernization plans.
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said that the additional Dreamliner order confirms the airline’s long-term strategy focused on modern, fuel-efficient aircraft. According to him, the investment will not only enhance the level of service offered to passengers but also support the airline’s transition toward more sustainable aviation through the adoption of the latest technologies.
Ethiopian Airlines already operates the largest Dreamliner fleet on the African continent, using its 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft on intercontinental routes from Addis Ababa to Europe, Asia and North America, as well as on selected high-demand intra-African routes. The Dreamliner fleet has enabled the carrier to connect distant destinations more efficiently while offering significant belly-cargo capacity, an important factor for trade flows to and from Africa.
From Boeing’s perspective, the 787 Dreamliner family has fundamentally reshaped the long-haul air travel market over the past decade. According to Anbessie Yitbarek, Boeing’s Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing for Africa, the Dreamliner has enabled airlines to open a large number of new non-stop routes while achieving significantly lower fuel consumption and emissions. Compared with the aircraft it replaces, the 787 reduces fuel use and emissions by up to 25 percent.
Since entering commercial service in 2011, the Dreamliner has supported the launch of more than 520 new nonstop routes between city pairs that were previously unserved, and the 787 family has carried more than one billion passengers worldwide.
Ethiopian Airlines already operates the largest Boeing fleet in Africa and also holds the continent’s largest backlog of orders for 737 MAX, 777X, and 787 Dreamliner aircraft, clearly illustrating the airline’s long-term commitment to the U.S. manufacturer and its continued expansion of the international network from its Addis Ababa hub.
