Africa’s largest carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, said it will acquire six more Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, reinforcing its long-haul expansion plans across Africa and key international markets.
Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said the airline converted six existing purchase options into firm orders following a signing ceremony at Boeing’s headquarters near Washington. The carrier had already placed orders for 20 Dreamliners, including nine earlier this year, bringing its total pipeline of the aircraft type to 26.
Deliveries of the new jets are expected to begin in 2028, supporting the airline’s push to scale up long-haul operations to destinations in the United States, Europe, Asia, and underserved routes within Africa.
Tasew said fleet constraints had previously limited expansion, noting the airline aims to deploy larger aircraft on high-demand African routes and launch new long-haul services, including to Australia.
The agreement comes as officials from the administration of Donald Trump continue to prioritise boosting U.S. exports, particularly in the aerospace sector.
Separately, Tasew said he held talks in Washington on the airline’s $12.5 billion airport project in Bishoftu, which is set to become Africa’s largest aviation hub by 2030. The new facility, located about 45 kilometres southeast of Addis Ababa, is designed to handle up to 60 million passengers annually.
Positioned as a major regional gateway, the airport aims to rival global transit hubs such as Dubai and Istanbul. Construction began in January, with the African Development Bank among key financiers, committing $500 million and helping mobilise additional funding.
The project is expected to significantly expand Ethiopia’s aviation capacity, as the current main airport nears its operational limits within the next few years.