Ethiopian Airlines has ordered up to 35 Boeing 737 Max 8s, as part of its plan to become a leading airline in Africa.
The order is split between 20 firm aircraft and 15 options and purchase rights that is valued at $2.1 billion at list prices, the airframer says. The order was previously listed as “unidentified” on its website.
“Today's order underlines our commitment to our 15-year strategic plan, 'Vision 2025', in which Ethiopian will strive to become the leading airline group in Africa carrying 18 million passengers per annum," says Tewolde Gebremariam, chief executive of Ethiopian, in a statement. “The 737 Max will form a key component of that strategic vision, enhancing our single-aisle fleet and keeping us at the forefront of African aviation.”
The aircraft will use CFM International Leap-1B engines.
Ethiopian told Flightglobal in February that it was evaluating the 737 Max, as well as the Airbus A320neo family, for an order of up to 20 narrowbody aircraft.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
