Ethiopian Airlines Orders 10 Boeing Freighters as Fleet Surpasses 140 Aircraft

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopian Airlines has signed an agreement to purchase 10 Boeing cargo aircraft, with an option to acquire eight additional freighters, as Africa’s largest airline by fleet size continues to expand its cargo operations.

The agreement, signed in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, comprises eight Boeing 777-8F freighters and two Boeing 777F aircraft, Ethiopian Airlines Chief Executive Officer Mesfin Tasew said at the signing ceremony.

The deal further strengthens the airline’s position in the African air cargo market and builds on a fleet of more than 140 aircraft.

Mesfin said the catalogue value of the 10 aircraft was approximately $5 billion, although the actual purchase price agreed between Ethiopian Airlines and Boeing remains confidential.

The airline will also have the right to purchase an additional eight Boeing 777-8F freighters, potentially taking the total number of new cargo aircraft covered by the agreement to 18.

Ethiopian Airlines currently operates 12 Boeing 777F cargo aircraft, three Boeing 767 freighters and four converted Boeing 737 aircraft serving medium-haul routes.

The latest order comes as Ethiopian Airlines continues to position Addis Ababa as a major aviation and logistics hub connecting Africa with international markets.

The airline is also helping to fund a $12.5 billion airport project that Ethiopian authorities say will become Africa’s largest airport. The first phase of the project is scheduled to open in 2030.

The agreement makes Ethiopian Airlines the first African carrier to order Boeing’s 777-8F, according to Boeing Senior Vice President for Global Sales and Marketing Brad McMullen.

The expansion of the cargo fleet comes amid continued growth in demand for air freight and reflects the airline’s broader strategy of increasing its capacity for cargo transportation alongside its passenger operations.