Ethiopian Airlines announced Monday that it will buy 11 additional Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets.
According to a news release from the carrier, Ethiopian signed a purchase agreement for the Boeing aircraft on the opening day of the Dubai Airshow.
Ethiopian Airlines operates the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in Africa and also has the largest backlog of 737 MAX, 777X, and 787 Dreamliner jets on the continent. The airline stated that the acquisition will expand the reliability, efficiency, and range of its 737 MAX fleet operating in Africa, the Middle East, India and Southern Europe.
“We are thrilled to be announcing our agreement with Boeing for additional 11 737-8 airplanes today during Dubai Airshow,” said Mesfin Tasew, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, in the release. “The order will support our growth plans that we have set as part of our vision and strategy. We are happy that our partnership with Boeing continues to grow over the years and we look forward to flying Boeing airplanes for years to come and that we will continue to serve our customers by bringing them high performance airplanes with passenger comfort.”
The carrier did not provide a timeline for when it expects to receive the aircraft.
In October, the Federal Aviation Administration permitted Boeing to raise its monthly 737 MAX production cap from 38 to 42 per month – a move that may boost the manufacturer’s output amid order backlogs.
