Ethiopian Airlines Secures Nine 787-9 Dreamliners to Expand Cross-Continental Network

Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier, has committed to purchasing nine B 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft from Boeing, marking a significant expansion of its intercontinental operations. The order, finalized in late 2025, represents the airline’s strategic push to strengthen its dominance in long-haul travel across the continent. Combined with an earlier commitment for 11 737 MAX jets announced at the Dubai Airshow, Ethiopian Airlines has expanded its overall order book by 20 fuel-efficient Boeing aircraft in a single calendar period.

Reinforcing African Aviation Leadership Through Fleet Modernization

Ethiopian Airlines currently operates Africa’s largest 787 Dreamliner fleet, serving 145 international destinations with its existing 787-8 and 787-9 jets. The nine new 787-9 aircraft will be deployed primarily on intercontinental routes connecting Addis Ababa to high-demand markets across Europe, Asia, and North America, while also strengthening critical intra-African logistics corridors. This expansion positions the carrier to capture growing demand for point-to-point air travel across the world’s second-largest continent while maintaining competitive capacity for cargo operations on premium trade lanes.

Superior Efficiency: How the 787-9 Powers African Long-Haul Operations

The 787 Dreamliner family delivers a distinctive advantage for Ethiopian Airlines’ expansion strategy—the aircraft reduces fuel consumption and emissions by 25% compared to the aircraft it replaces. For carriers operating across Africa’s vast distances, this efficiency translates into lower operational costs, extended range capabilities, and reduced environmental impact on every intercontinental flight. These characteristics enable the airline to offer competitive pricing on long-haul routes while maintaining healthy profit margins across its growing network.

A Strategic Portfolio Expansion Within Ethiopia’s Enterprise Calendar

With this dual aircraft order totaling 20 aircraft, Ethiopian Airlines has locked in a comprehensive fleet renewal schedule that aligns with its multi-year business expansion calendar. The airline maintains Africa’s largest backlog of 737 MAX, 777X, and 787 Dreamliner aircraft, underscoring its commitment to becoming the continent’s premier long-haul carrier. The combination of narrow-body 737 MAX jets for regional connectivity and wide-body 787 Dreamliners for transcontinental routes positions Ethiopian Airlines to systematically expand its service territory and capture emerging market opportunities across Africa’s growing aviation sector.