Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer are vying for a new order of narrowbody aircraft from Ethiopian Airlines, with a decision expected in the coming weeks, as reported by Bloomberg.
On July 12, 2026, Lemma Yadecha, the Chief Commercial Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, addressed the media regarding the potential order after the launch of its new passenger route to Mauritius.
Bloomberg indicates that the national carrier of Ethiopia is contemplating an order for 25 narrowbody planes, with the possibility of adding 10 more later.
The airline is evaluating several aircraft, including Boeing’s smallest MAX variant (though it remains uncertain if this refers to the 737-8 or the forthcoming 737-7), Embraer’s regional jets, and Airbus’ A220 model.
In May 2026, there were speculations that Ethiopian was considering an order for 20 A220 narrowbody aircraft.
These acquisitions align with Ethiopian Airlines’ ambition to establish itself as a significant global connector.
The airline’s direct investment in the upcoming Bishoftu International Airport, a new $12.5 billion four-runway greenfield airport in Addis Ababa that began construction in January 2026, is also part of this expansive growth plan.
Furthermore, Yadecha informed reporters that the airline is close to making a decision on the purchase of 16 freighter aircraft, with options for an additional eight.
With the executive indicating that a decision regarding both the narrowbodies and freighters is imminent, an announcement could potentially be made as soon as the Farnborough Airshow.
Last year at the Paris Air Show, De Havilland Canada (DHC) revealed that Ethiopian Airlines had entered into a purchase agreement for two new Twin Otter Classic 300-G aircraft.
De Havilland Canada delivered the first of these Twin Otter Classic 300-G aircraft to Ethiopian Airlines last month.
Currently, Ethiopian’s fleet is predominantly composed of Boeing aircraft, with approximately 50 planes manufactured by the US company.
The airline also operates 22 Airbus A350-900s and four A350-1000s. According to ch-aviation data, there are no Embraer aircraft in its current fleet.
Source: Original article
