Ethiopian Airlines is going to place orders for 20 wide body aircraft, reports The Reporter.
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam,
said management is evaluating the Boeing's new aircraft under
development B777X and the Airbus A350-1000. The number of aircraft could
be 15-20.
Analyst Saj Ahmad said: “Ethiopian Airlines'
continued expansion puts it right at the top of leading African airlines
and its selection of a new widebody jet will solidify its position as
Africa's fastest growing airline.
“Ethiopian had early expressed a preference
previously for the bigger 777-9X, given that it has more range and
carries more passengers than the competing A350-1000, but with Ethiopian
Airlines also inducting the first of 14 A350-900s next year, there is
ample room for either a split deal between Airbus and Boeing as well as a
"winner takes all" outcome.”
Ahamad added: “The biggest challenge for both
Airbus and Boeing is that while the A350-1000 and 777X are both years
away from entering service, the performance metrics devised by both
manufacturers will have to conform Ethiopian Airlines' stringent payload
needs as they utilise many of the long haul jets to the fullest, with
both passenger and cargo loads.
“This would favour the 777-9X given the commonality
with the 777-300ER and 787-8 fleets as well as its range superiority
over the A350-1000, but the complexity of winning such a lucrative deal
means both Airbus and Boeing will have to pull out all the stops to win
this campaign.”
The evaluation started last month and will be finalised within the next
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