Ethiopian Airlines, the Pan-African aviation giant, has officially confirmed a contract to purchase six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft as part of its strategy to further expand long-haul flight services and grow its fleet. According to information released by Boeing on Monday, the airline fully exercised its options from 2023, converting them into firm orders.
This decision is expected to play a major role in strengthening the airline’s international flights from Addis Ababa to Europe, Asia, and North America, while also bolstering its cargo capacity.
Mesfin Tasew, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, stated that these six new 787-9 Dreamliners will enable the airline to continue its growth using technologically advanced and fuel-efficient aircraft. As reported by Reuters, this move will help the airline address its current aircraft shortage, open new destinations, and reach markets that were previously inaccessible due to fleet constraints.
Boeing, for its part, highlighted that Ethiopian Airlines is currently the largest operator of 787 Dreamliners in Africa, emphasizing that these aircraft serve as the backbone of the carrier’s transcontinental flights. Additionally, these new planes offer significant belly capacity, making them ideal for providing extra cargo services.
This current agreement is linked to the airline’s recent large-scale procurement deals. It is recalled that between December 2025 and January 2026, the airline agreed with Boeing to purchase nine additional 787 Dreamliners and 11 737 MAX aircraft.
This latest deal is a critical step toward achieving the airline’s “Vision 2035” growth roadmap. According to reports, deliveries of these six aircraft are expected to begin in 2028, further strengthening the long-standing and robust partnership between the airline and the American company, Boeing.
Although six aircraft may seem like a small number in terms of global market activity, they hold great significance for Ethiopian Airlines. This purchase creates substantial capacity for the ongoing efforts to make Addis Ababa Africa’s primary aviation hub.
