ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopian Airlines Group has taken a significant step in its expansion and modernization strategy by placing an order with Boeing (NYSE:BA) Co. for 11 787-9 Dreamliners and 20 737-8s, potentially marking the largest purchase from Boeing in Africa. The deal, part of the airline's Vision 2035 strategy, includes up to 67 planes, aiming to enhance their fleet with environmentally sustainable aircraft.
The announcement of this major transaction was made on Tuesday at the Dubai Airshow, where Ethiopian Airlines expressed its commitment to reducing fuel use and emissions. The new Boeing 787-9 models are expected to cut fuel consumption and emissions by a quarter, while the MAX 737-8s are slated to reduce these metrics by a fifth. Additionally, the airline plans cabin modifications to improve passenger comfort on their existing fleet of 787 Dreamliners.
This order contributes to Ethiopian Airlines' backlog of fuel-efficient jets, now totaling 50 aircraft. CEO Mesfin Tasew highlighted that these eco-friendly advancements are key to the company's growth plans. Following the news, Boeing experienced a positive impact on its stock market position with premarket shares climbing by 0.6%.
In related industry news, Malaysia Airlines is set to welcome its first Boeing 737 MAX into its Kuala Lumpur fleet on Monday. This introduction is part of Malaysia Airlines' broader initiative to modernize its fleet with 25 MAX 8 aircraft by 2026. The new planes feature a redesigned interior with unique blue seats adorned with batik motifs and are equipped with USB power outlets and fold-down device trays. The MHstudio inflight entertainment system will allow passengers to stream content via WiFi directly to their personal devices.
The modernization efforts extend beyond Boeing models as Malaysia Airlines looks forward to incorporating the Airbus A330neo into its fleet by the end of 2024, which will feature Elevation model seats from Collins Aerospace.
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