ADDIS ABABA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian Airlines has inked a deal with Boeing Company to purchase eight 777-9 wide-body jets, with potential order for up to 12 additional aircraft, the airlines said Tuesday in a statement.
Ethiopian Airlines' selection of 777-9 jets makes the country's national carrier the first customer of this plane type in Africa.
"We are pleased to continue setting the trend in African aviation by adopting cutting-edge technologies to enhance our services and customer satisfaction," the statement quoted Mesfin Tasew, chief executive officer of the Ethiopian Airlines Group, as saying after signing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.
The 777-9 features new carbon-fiber composite wings and engines that will enable the airplane to achieve 10 percent better fuel efficiency and operating costs than other fleet families.
"Improving our operational performance and commitment to environmental sustainability, the 777-9 offers more flexibility, reduced fuel consumption and carbon emissions," Tasew said.
The statement noted that Boeing airplanes make up more than half of Ethiopian Airlines' current fleet.
"Ethiopian Airlines marks yet another first in our longstanding partnership by selecting the 777-9 to be the flagship of its growing fleet," the statement quoted Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president, as saying.
As part of its Vision 2035, Ethiopian Airlines is planning to fly to more than 209 international destinations, with more than 271 modern and eco-friendly airplanes. ■
