Boeing announced this week that Ethiopian Airlines placed an order for four of its 777 freight aircraft. The deal between the Seattle based aircraft manufacturer and the Ethiopian airway is estimated at 1.1 billion US dollars. A joint announcement on Wednesday made in Seattle explained that Ethiopian Airlines was the first African Airline to order the twin engine aircraft.

The Airline's freight capacity and range will be greatly enhanced by the new acquisitions according to Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines. The planes demonstrated operational and economical efficiency that is sure to strengthen the position of prominence enjoyed by the airline in Africa, said Tewolde.

The long time use of Boeing aircraft by Ethiopian Airlines was remembered by Van Rex Gallard Vice president of Sales for Africa, Latin America, and Caribbean for the Boeing Corporation. He appreciated the decision made by Ethiopian to purchase Boeing aircraft to enhance its cargo capacity. Boeing offers a range of efficient freight aircraft ensuring maximum profits for Airlines’ he added.

It is to be remembered that Ethiopian Airlines was the first African Airway to place orders for 10 Dreamliner Boeing aircraft as well as the new extra wide body Airbus airplanes expected to come of the Airbus assembly line in Toulouse in 2014. The first two of the Dreamliner aircraft are scheduled for delivery in March of 2012.

Ethiopian Airlines has the largest aircraft order list in Africa and hopes to increase the number of jet it operates to 112 by 2025.

Source: The Reporter