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Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopia’s flag carrier, is to acquire four Boeing 787 Dreamliner Jetliners, two Boeing 777 freighters, four Boeing 737-800 and Five Bombardier Q400 aircraft by the end of this year according to Tewolde Gebremariam, Chief Executive Officer of the airline.

Ethiopian had put in an order for ten Dreamliner aircraft at a total cost of 1.5 billion US dollars in 2005 with delivery expected in 200-2010. After several delays Boeing has now confirmed that the first two Dreamliner aircraft will be delivered in July or August of this year although the exact date has not been decided said Tewolde. 

Ethiopia Airlines plans to add 14 more new aircraft to its fleet this year as part of efforts to increase revenues by five fold in 2025 according to Tewolde Gebremariam, Chief Executive of the airline.

The company is an a phase of ‘fast growth’ targeting annual sales of 10 billion US dollars by the end of its Vision 2025 plan, which also entails increasing its fleet to 120 aircraft said Tewolde.

The airline is committed to re-investing profits in financing infrastructural development and in building a new fleet which means considerable investment he said.

Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopia’s flag carrier, is seeking foreign export agencies to finance its purchase of 12 A350-XWB, Airbus aircraft.

The airline has already made the down payment for the purchase of the A350-XWB aircraft and is ready to involve export agencies to finance the remaining amount said Wogayehu Terefe, Manger of Public Relations and Publications with Ethiopian Airlines.

Ethiopian expects to begin financing for the 12 aircraft in 2015 while the first aircraft is scheduled to be delivered in 2017 according to Wogayheyu.

Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopia’s flag carrier, will be the first airline in Africa to operate the 787 Boeing Dreamliner according to Tewolde Gebremariam, Chief Executive of Ethiopian.

Tewolde took a tour of the first Dreamliner expected to arrive later this year when in Seattle to discuss the delivery with Boeing executives in Seattle according to a statement made by the airline.

Tewolde met with Jim Albaugh, President and Chief Executive of Commercial Airplanes as well as Larry Loftis Vice President and General Manager of the 787 and other program managers to discuss the airlines first delivery and received an update on the Dreamliner program and production explained the statement.

Ethiopian Airlines will become an official member of Star Alliance in a ceremony to be held next month. It is expected that CEOs of the 27 members of Star Airlines and other aviation dignitaries will attend the ceremony.

Ethiopian Airlines is trying to select a day that will enable all CEO’s to attend the ceremony according to Wegayehu Terefe Public Relations Manager of Ethiopian Airlines.

The Airlines aims to mark the event with a lavish ceremony as it is a significant milestone in its efforts to become a world class airline said Wegayehu.