Africa’s top airline orders 6 more Dreamliner as it builds continent’s largest airport

Ethiopian Airlines, Africa's largest carrier, is scaling up its global ambitions with new aircraft purchases and a massive infrastructure project that could reshape air travel on the continent.

• Ethiopian Airlines is expanding its fleet with the purchase of six additional Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, increasing its total order to 26.
• Deliveries of the new aircraft will begin in 2028, supporting the airline’s growth on long-haul routes to Africa, the US, Europe, and Asia.
• Some previously unserved routes, such as Australia, are now possible due to the expanded fleet.
• Ethiopian Airlines is investing $12.5 billion in building Africa’s largest airport in Bishoftu, aiming for a capacity of 60 million passengers by 2030.

The airline said on Monday that it will purchase six more Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner jets, turning existing options into definite orders.

This raises its total order for Boeing 787 aircraft to 26, following a prior acquisition of 20 jets, nine of which were acquired in January.

According to Group CEO Mesfin Tasew, who spoke to Reuters about the move, deliveries will begin in 2028, paving the way for the airline's massive growth of long-haul flights across Africa and into key global markets such as the United States, Europe, and Asia.

"There are mature routes we need," he said, including some ​in Africa where Ethiopian Airlines would like to fly larger airplanes.

"There are routes ​that we wanted to fly, but we couldn't do because of the shortage of airplanes, like Australia."

The agreement was signed at Boeing's headquarters outside Washington, with members of the Trump administration present.

Back in June, 2025, the airline revealed that it was considering purchasing at least 20 regional or small narrowbody aircraft to improve its domestic and short-haul network.

Among the aircraft under consideration are the Airbus A220, Embraer E-2, and the yet-to-be-certified Boeing 737 MAX 7.

The actual number and kind of aircraft will be determined by the model chosen, but the decision reflects Ethiopian Airlines' overall objective of modernizing its fleet while increasing its presence in both regional and international markets.

Ethiopian Airlines’ airport expansion

Beyond fleet expansion, Ethiopian Airlines is making significant investments in ground infrastructure.

The airline’s CEO announced development on a $12.5 billion airport project in Bishoftu, a village roughly 45 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa.

Once completed in 2030, the new facility is planned to be Africa's largest airport, with four runways and a capacity more than four times that of the country's present primary airport.

"The new airport will have a capacity of 60 million passengers with all the latest ultramodern facilities," Tasew said. "We want this airport to be the Dubai of Africa, or the Istanbul of Africa."

The project is backed by major financiers, notably the African Development Bank, which has contributed $500 million and is leading attempts to obtain a further $8.7 billion.

Construction began earlier this year as Ethiopian Airlines raced to keep up with rising passenger demand, with its current hub set to reach full capacity within the next two to three years.