Ethiopian Airlines strengthens its position as Africa’s largest A350 operator with order for 6 additional A350-900s

Ethiopian Airlines strengthens its position as Africa’s largest A350 operator with order for 6 additional A350-900s

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 18 November 2025

Ethiopian Airlines, the largest airline in Africa and one of the fastest growing airline brands globally has placed a firm order for 6 additional Airbus A350-900 aircraft, further strengthening its position as the largest A350 customer in Africa. This agreement was signed at the Dubai Airshow by Mr. Mesfin Tasew, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO and Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business.

Mr. Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines said: “We are delighted to expand our Airbus fleet size with this order and strengthen our partnership with the Airbus company. As the continent’s leading airline and the largest operator of the A350, this milestone order further supports our vision to grow sustainably while providing a world-class travel experience and strengthening our position as the aviation leader in Africa.”

Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus Executive Vice President Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business said: “We are proud to further deepen our partnership with Ethiopian Airlines, a long-standing Airbus customer and a benchmark for aviation excellence in Africa. The A350’s state-of-the-art technology, efficiency and versatility will bring even greater value to Ethiopian’s operations.”

The Airbus A350-900 brings 25% lower fuel burn and CO₂ emissions compared to previous-generation aircraft and is recognized for its quiet cabin, advanced aerodynamics, and state-of-the-art passenger comfort features.

The new order underscores Ethiopian Airlines’ long-term strategy to modernize and expand its fleet with technologically advanced, fuel-efficient, and environmentally friendly aircraft.

About Ethiopian

Ethiopian Airlines Group (Ethiopian) is a true African success story, transforming a visionary dream into a globally renowned reality for nearly eight decades. Operating flights to more than 160 domestic and international passengers, and cargo destinations across five continents, Ethiopian bridges the gaps between Africa and the world. Emphasizing passenger comfort and environmental sustainability, Ethiopian utilizes ultra-modern aircraft such as Boeing 737s, 777s, 787s, Airbus A350-900, A350-1000 and De Havilland Q400.

Ethiopian, the Star Alliance member airline, champions in various coveted awards including Skytrax’s ‘Best Airline in Africa Award’ for eight consecutive years, APEX ‘Best Overall in Africa’ award and ‘Leadership in Connecting Africa through Transport’ Award among others. Ethiopian aims to further excel in its success through a strategic plan dubbed ‘Vision 2035’ and become one of the top 20 most competitive and leading aviation groups in the world. Embracing a Pan-African spirit, Ethiopian is pursuing multi-hub strategy through hubs in Lomé, Togo with ASKY, in Lilongwe, Malawi with Malawi Airlines, in Lusaka, Zambia with Zambia Airways, and in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with Air Congo.

For more information, visit our website at  www.ethiopianairlines.com email us at CorporateCommunication@ethiopianairlines.com , or

call us at (251-11)517-8913/8165/8907.