Ethiopia’s flagship carrier, Ethiopian Airlines Group, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for 11 additional Airbus A350-900s with six more purchase rights to be added to its existing fleet.
The latest agreement takes Ethiopian Airlines’ total order book and commitment for the A350 to 33, including four A350-1000s.
The airline currently operates a fleet of 20 A350-900s and with this commitment, it will confirm its position as Africa's biggest A350 customer.
The signing of the MoU took place at Dubai Airshow last week in the presence of Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Mesfin Tasew, and Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International at Airbus, Christian Scherer.
Tasew said: “We are excited to place this commitment for 11 Airbus A350-900s. As a customer-focused airline, we are particularly excited for the fleet as it offers extra comfort to passengers with its features like the quietest cabin in its class and ambient lighting. We are keen to expand our fleet size, acquiring the latest aircraft technology to offer our esteemed passengers a convenient and memorable onboard experience.”
Scherer said: “Ethiopian Airlines is a great example of leveraging the exceptional values of the A350 for long-haul travel, playing on the benefits of Ethiopia’s unique geographical position that offers the fastest connections between China and Latin America. We are delighted to further strengthen the Ethiopian Airlines fleet and continue the great relationship we have built together.”
The A350 is the world’s most modern and efficient widebody aircraft and the long-range leader in the 300- to 410-seat category, flying efficiently on any sector from short-haul to ultra-long-haul routes up to 9 700nm.
Its clean sheet design includes state-of-the-art technologies, aerodynamics, lightweight materials and latest-generation engines that deliver 25% advantage in fuel burn, operating costs and CO₂ emissions, as well as 50% noise reduction compared with previous generation competitor aircraft. The A350 has also won more than 1 000 orders from leading carriers from around the globe.
