New order confirms Ethiopian Airlines’ renewed confidence in the MAX

They have come through a long and, most recently, troubled relationship after the fatal MAX 8 crash in March 2019. But Ethiopian Airlines and Boeing have now restored their friendship and started a new chapter, which is symbolized on the second day of the Dubai Airshow with a big order. Ethiopian has placed a firm order for 20 MAX 8s and 11 787-9s, plus options for another 21 MAX and 15 Dreamliners.

Ethiopian placed a first MAX order in September 2014 for 20 aircraft, followed by one for 10 aircraft in July 2016. Following the 2019 accident of flight ET302

after take-off from Addis Ababa, in which all 157 occupants were killed, the airline considered canceling all MAX orders but kept them in the backlog. Ethiopian resumed MAX operations only in February 2022 and currently operates 13 MAX 8s. It has 17 aircraft in the backlog.

The airline also has a fleet of 29 Dreamliners, including 19 of the smaller 787-8 and 10 -9s. All 787-9s and eight-8s are leased. There are no Dreamliners in the unfilled orders list. To fulfill its needs, Ethiopian will seek lease opportunities for more 787s to bridge the gap between now and the delivery of the newly-ordered Dreamliners.