Ethiopian Airlines to buy 10 777 freighters from Boeing

Ethiopian Airlines has placed orders for eight brand-new 777-8 freighters and two existing-model 777 cargo planes from Boeing, aiding the manufacturer in narrowing the sales rivalry with competitor Airbus. This announcement, made by Boeing on Wednesday, comes a day after Airbus carried out the inaugural test flight of its A350 freighter.

The significance of this development lies in the rising demand for widebody freighters, driven by production constraints of large passenger aircraft due to supply chain and engine issues, and the retirement of older, less fuel-efficient cargo jets amid sustained trade expansion. As the first African airline to order the 777-8 freighter, Ethiopian aims to leverage the aircraft for growth and to augment its extensive network, which presently spans over 70 destinations worldwide via 18 Boeing aircraft - consisting of 12 777s, two 767 medium widebody jets, and four 737-800 converted narrowbody freighters.

Boeing has set a commercial release target of 2028 for the 777-8, but the aircraft is currently behind schedule, with potential delays in certification extending production to 2029 or later. By sticking with the Boeing 777 family, Ethiopian gains benefits in terms of pilot interoperability, maintenance, and cargo handling. The 777-8 boasts a maximum payload capacity of 118 metric tons, surpassing the A350's 111 tons.

Additionally, the 777-8 exhibits 30% improved fuel efficiency, 25% better operating costs per ton, and up to a 60% reduction in noise impact on the ground, as per Boeing.

With this order, Boeing now holds firm commitments for 89 777-8 freighter aircraft, compared to Airbus' 115 orders for the A350. Ethiopian had previously placed orders for eight 777-9 passenger jets. Earlier this month, Ethiopian Cargo announced plans to market its cargo capacity to freight forwarders on CargoAi's multi-carrier booking platform.