Ethiopian Airlines, Africa's largest carrier, is reportedly in early-stage talks with Airbus to acquire a significant number of regional and widebody aircraft. The discussions involve an order for roughly 20 of Airbus's A220 regional jets and about six A350 widebody aircraft. This potential deal would mark a notable shift for Ethiopian, which has historically leaned heavily on Boeing aircraft for both its regional and long-haul operations. Currently, the airline operates a narrowbody fleet primarily consisting of the Boeing 737 family, including three 737-700s, 16 737-800s, and 23 737 MAX 8 aircraft. For the widebody segment, Ethiopian already has 22 A350-900s and four A350-1000s, with 17 A350-900s still pending delivery from a total of 35 firm orders.
While the talks with Airbus are progressing, Ethiopian Airlines is also evaluating options from other manufacturers for its regional jet expansion. CEO Mesfin Tasew Bekele indicated that a decision on an order for 25 smaller commercial jets is expected within the next three months. Besides the Airbus A220, the airline is considering the Embraer E-2 series and the Boeing 737 MAX 7, which is awaiting certification by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration this year. These regional aircraft would be deployed on both domestic routes and to neighboring countries.
Adding A220s would diversify Ethiopian's regional fleet strategy, positioning them between its larger Boeing 737 fleet and its turboprops, such as Dash 8 Q400s and ATR 72 aircraft. Despite its traditional preference for Boeing, Ethiopian Airlines has become one of Airbus's largest A350 operators in Africa. The airline is also pursuing aggressive expansion plans, including a $12.5 billion airport project near Addis Ababa designed to handle 60 million passengers annually, with long-term capacity targets of up to 110 million by 2036. The airline has faced challenges, including higher fuel prices, with a 60% increase in jet fuel costs, and a reported $137 million loss in one week due to Middle East conflicts.
