Ethiopian Airlines orders nine more Boeing 787-9s for delivery after opening of new airport
Ethiopian Airlines is planning to take delivery of the aircraft just shortly after the opening of its new airport, Bishoftu International Airport.
Ethiopian Airlines has confirmed that it has ordered nine new Boeing 787-9 aircraft, which will be delivered between 2031 and 2033, coinciding with the planned opening date of the country’s new mega airport, Bishoftu International Airport (BIA).
On January 20, 2026, Ethiopian Airlines said that it ordered nine additional 787-9s that will be delivered between 2031 and 2033. According to the airline, the nine aircraft will help it expand its route network and international connectivity.
While during the Dubai Airshow in November 2025, the African carrier ordered 11 737 MAX 8 aircraft, it said that orders for the additional 737 MAX and 787-9s were both finalized in December 2025, which boosted its order book with 20 new-generation Boeing aircraft.
At the same event, Ethiopian Airlines also unveiled an order for six Airbus A350-900s.
Mesfin Tasew, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ethiopian Airlines, noted that the airline “will continue to acquire more aircraft and adopt the latest technologies as part of our strategic vision to advance sustainable aviation.”
The airline’s statement read that, in addition to expanding its fleet, it is also undertaking major modernization initiatives, including the groundbreaking of BIA.
Slated to replace the current Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) hub, Phase One of BIA will open in 2030, welcoming up to 60 million passengers per year. When the new airport is fully completed, it “will have the capacity to handle 110 million passengers.”
The current airport’s location is problematic for Ethiopian Airlines. In addition to limited space to expand, ADD is situated at an altitude of more than 2,325 meters (7,627 feet) above sea level. The altitude limits the performance of aircraft departing ADD, with Ethiopia’s hot weather compounding the problem.
According to the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report for BIA, the new airport’s site struck a good balance between aircraft operational efficiency, potential air traffic from/to ADD, and the lowest total development costs.
Boeing’s orders and deliveries data show that as of December 31, 2025, Ethiopian Airlines has unfilled orders for 60 aircraft, including 41 737 MAX, eight 777X, and 11 787-9s.
The newly ordered 787-9s will be powered by GE Aerospace GEnx engines. The African carrier currently has 20 787-8 and 10 787-9 aircraft in its fleet. Six 787-8 and four 787-9s are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, while the remainder of its 787 aircraft have two GEnx engines mounted on their wings.
Rytis Beresnevicius
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