Ethiopian orders 8 Boeing 777-9 with 12 options

Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines announced a firm order for 8 Boeing 777-9 aircraft and options for 12 additional aircraft. Ethiopian will be the first African operator of the 777-9, building on its 2023 order for 11 787 Dreamliners and 20 737 MAX aircraft. The MAX crash several years ago has clearly not impacted the Ethiopian-Boeing relationship, as the carrier remains a staunch Boeing customer. The 777-9 program is currently five years late in development, and last week, Tim Clark, CEO of Emirates, indicated that the program may slip from a planned late 2025 entry into service to 2026. Nonetheless, the 777-9 is finally gaining some momentum in terms of new orders, as airlines are replacing older less efficient aircraft as quickly as the supply becomes available. The 777-9 features new carbon-fiber composite wings and engines that will enable the airplane to achieve 10% better fuel efficiency and operating costs than the competition. The 777-9 will support Ethiopian Airlines' plans to grow and renew its fleet in size, range and passenger and cargo capacity to reach high-demand markets in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew stated "we are pleased to continue setting the trend in African aviation by adopting cutting-edge technologies to enhance our services and customer satisfaction. Improving our operational performance and commitment to environmental sustainability, the 777-9 offers more flexibility, reduced fuel consumption and carbon emissions. We are grateful to Boeing for their long-standing partnership and support, and we eagerly anticipate flying the 777-9 across the African skies and beyond. Ethiopian Airlines marks yet another first in our longstanding partnership by selecting the 777-9 to be the flagship of its growing fleet," said Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing. "Building on a relationship that goes back 75 years, we deeply value the unwavering trust and confidence Ethiopian Airlines puts in our airplanes." The Bottom Line Ethiopian was one of the two airlines involved in the crashes of the 737 MAX 8, but continues to strongly support Boeing. The 777-9 will be the third member of the latest fuel efficient offerings from Boeing once it enters services. Entry into service is expected n the 2025-2026 time frame if the program continues on its present schedule. Clearly, Ethiopian has not lost confidence in Boeing, as a multiple repeat customer. Ethiopian will also operate the Airbus A350-900, which is smaller than the 777-9, which upon entry into service will be the largest new aircraft available.

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