Ethiopian Airlines doubles down on Boeing with additional 737 MAX order
November 17, 2025
Ethiopian Airlines used the platform of the Dubai Airshow to exercise options for more Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The airline has firmed up a further 11 of the aircraft, all the MAX 8 variant.
Boeing Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing, Brad McMullen, took to the stage with Mesfin Tasew to announce the order.
“It was two years ago that we sat approximately in the same location, and we announced a very big historic order that Ethiopian placed for MAX aircraft and for 787 aircraft,” McMullen said. “It’s my pleasure to be here once again after two years with the Ethiopian team as they place an order for an additional 11 MAX aircraft.”
Boeing’s relationship with Ethiopian Airlines is stronger than ever
The airline ordered 29 737 MAX in 2023, and has received 22 so far. It still flies 11 Boeing 737 NGs, a number that ties up nicely with today’s order, but the CEO was adamant this order is all about growth rather than replacement.
“We need these planes to support our expansion, our growth,” Taswe said. “We don’t have so many older planes. We operate a young fleet, so they will be used for growth.”
Ethiopian has been a strong Boeing customer for almost 80 years, and has flown almost every model of aircraft Boeing has ever produced. That relationship came under pressure in 2019 when its brand-new 737 MAX 8 crashed shortly after takeoff, claiming the lives of 149 passengers and eight crew.
The signing of the MAX order in 2023 was seen as a vote of confidence in Boeing’s fix for the product, and today’s order further solidifies that partnership.
Order in progress for more Boeing 787 Dreamliners
While today’s announcement was all about the narrowbody, Tasew indicated that the airline is closing in on a further order for Boeing 787 aircraft.
“I would like to also inform you that we would like to confirm some 787 widebody aircraft in the coming few weeks,” said the CEO. “We are finalising the discussion with Boeing.”
The airline already flies 29 of the type, with another on the way. Including the new delivery, 20 of these will be the 787-8, while 10 are the 787-9.
Speaking to AGN at the press conference, Tasew added some colour to when we could expect to see a deal for the 78 widebody.
“We have nine Boeing 787 aircraft that are currently options,” he said. “We would like to confirm those.”
Despite the deep partnership between Ethiopian Airlines and Boeing, Airbus still has an opportunity to keep its products in the fleet. Ethiopian already has 26 Airbus A350s, 22 -900s and four -1000s, and hasn’t closed the door on getting more.
“On the widebody aircraft, we are evaluating both Boeing and Airbus aircraft,” Tasew explained. “On the narrowbody side, we are now capitalising on the 737 MAX programme as a system.”
