Ethiopian Airlines Group is in early discussions with Airbus SE over a potential aircraft order as Africa’s largest carrier moves to expand its regional and long-haul operations.
According to people familiar with the talks, the airline is considering purchasing around six Airbus A350 widebody jets and roughly 20 A220 regional aircraft, Bloomberg reported.
However, the discussions remain at an early stage, and no final decision has been made on whether the order will proceed or on the exact size of any potential deal.
Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier, is scaling up its global ambitions with new aircraft purchases and a massive infrastructure project that could reshape air travel on the continent.
The state-owned carrier, which is more than 80 years old, has set out ambitious expansion plans to position itself alongside global aviation players such as Turkish Airlines and Emirates.
Ambitious expansion backed by mega airport project
It is currently developing a $12.5 billion airport project in Bishoftu, a village roughly 45 kilometres southeast of Addis Ababa, designed to initially handle 60 million passengers annually, with long-term capacity targets of up to 110 million by 2036.
Ethiopian Airlines Group already operates a mixed fleet of around 150 aircraft, including Boeing 737s, 777s and 787s, alongside Airbus A350S and turboprop aircraft, and has more than 60 Boeing jets on order. However, the airline is grappling with delivery delays from Boeing Co., with aircraft deliveries falling behind schedule even as it pushes ahead with its expansion plans.
For Airbus, a potential agreement would strengthen its presence within a carrier long dominated by Boeing aircraft. The company has recently stepped up promotion of its A220 model globally, following a period of weak order momentum in 2024, with recent large purchases such as AirAsia’s 150-aircraft order highlighting renewed interest in the type.
The development comes at a time when the aviation industry is facing severe headwinds, as the Iran war continues to disrupt global flight routes, forcing airspace closures and driving up jet fuel prices.
Ethiopian Airlines Group has also disclosed that it lost about $137 million in just one week, as the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran continues to strain air travel across the Middle East.
