Ethiopian Airlines Orders Six More Airbus A350-900s, Deepening Its Widebody Leadership

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Ethiopian Airlines has placed a firm order for six additional Airbus A350-900 aircraft, reinforcing its position as Africa’s largest operator of the A350 family. The deal was officially announced by Airbus on 18 November 2025 during the Dubai Airshow.

Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, signed the agreement alongside Airbus Executive Vice President Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, signaling the continuation of a long-standing partnership between the airline and Airbus.

“We are delighted to expand our Airbus fleet size with this order … this milestone order further supports our vision to grow sustainably … and strengthen our position as the aviation leader in Africa.” — Mesfin Tasew

What This Order Really Means for Ethiopian Airlines

1. Reinforcing African Leadership

With this deal, Ethiopian Airlines further solidifies its role as a frontrunner in African aviation. It already has one of the most modern wide-body fleets on the continent. By expanding its A350-900 fleet, the carrier strengthens its ability to serve long-haul routes, cargo operations, and premium travel segments.

2. Operational & Environmental Efficiency

The A350-900 is one of Airbus’s most efficient aircraft: with its advanced aerodynamic design, lightweight materials, and next-generation Rolls-Royce XWB engines, it offers a ~25% advantage in fuel burn and CO₂ emissions compared to older wide-body aircraft.

Ethiopian has also emphasized sustainability: the A350 is compatible with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) today, and Airbus is targeting 100% SAF capability by 2030.

Strategic Rationale Behind the Expansion

Long-Haul Growth & Network Ambition

Ethiopian Airlines has been aggressively growing its long-haul footprint, connecting Africa to major global markets. The A350-900 gives it the flexibility to operate relaunch and expansion of long-distance routes with strong fuel efficiency and range capability.

Fleet Commonality & Cost Management

Adding more A350-900s helps Ethiopian benefit from pilot and maintenance commonality. Since it already operates both the A350-900 and A350-1000, the airline can leverage shared training, spares, and maintenance infrastructure, controlling lifecycle costs.

Strengthening Premium and Cargo Service

The A350-900 supports both passenger and cargo missions. Its cargo capacity and range are well-aligned with Ethiopian’s cargo business, which is a critical revenue stream. More fuel-efficient widebodies mean better cost-per-ton for cargo operations.

Confidence in Airbus

This order reaffirms Ethiopian’s strong confidence in Airbus’s A350 platform. The airline’s leadership has publicly praised the aircraft’s performance, reliability, and economics — a vote of confidence in Airbus’s long-term viability as a wide-body partner.

Support & Maintenance Insight

Ethiopian already has a robust maintenance agreement with Airbus. In February 2025, the carrier signed a 7-year Flight Hour Services (FHS) agreement covering its A350 fleet (both -900 and -1000 variants).

Under the FHS deal, Airbus provides on-site stock in Addis Ababa, access to global spare-parts pools, and repair and engineering support for critical rotable components. This arrangement helps minimize aircraft downtime and supports Ethiopian’s long-term operations with high reliability.

Ethiopian’s A350 Journey to Date

Ethiopian has been operating A350s for years. Some key milestones:

• In November 2024, it took delivery of Africa’s first A350-1000, marking a major advancement for capacity and premium services.

  
  

• The airline has maintained a strong order pipeline. In November 2023, it committed to 11 more A350-900s, including six additional purchase rights, boosting its total commitment to 33 A350s (both -900 and -1000 variants).

  
  

• Earlier, in 2022, Ethiopian was the first African airline to order the A350-1000 variant, signaling its long-term belief in Airbus’s advanced widebody technology.

Risks, Challenges & Considerations

While the order is strong strategically, there are important considerations:

• Delivery Schedule: As with any large aircraft order, timely delivery and production slots matter. Ethiopian will need to coordinate with Airbus to ensure the aircraft arrive when needed.

  
  

• Upfront Cost: Financing additional wide-bodies requires substantial capital investment or lease arrangements. Ethiopian must ensure its cash flows support this growth.

  
  

• Operating Cost Pressure: While A350s are efficient, they still require careful operation, especially on thinner long-haul routes.

  
  

• Maintenance Burden: More aircraft mean more maintenance. Ethiopian will depend heavily on its FHS deal with Airbus, but also must balance local MRO capacity and spare parts inventory.

  
  

• Market Risk: Demand for long-haul travel can fluctuate. Economic downturns or geopolitical changes might affect load factors and revenue per seat.

Implications for Airbus & African Aviation

For Airbus

• The deal adds to Airbus’s robust A350 backlog and strengthens its presence in Africa.

  
  

• It demonstrates that African carriers are investing in modern wide-bodies, not just short-haul or regional aircraft.

  
  

• This kind of order supports Airbus’s long-term strategic goals around sustainability, as more airlines adopt SAF-capable aircraft.

For Ethiopian Airlines

• Reinforces its reputation as Africa’s most ambitious and rapidly expanding airline.

  
  

• Enables network and fleet growth, especially for intercontinental markets.

  
  

• Improves its environmental credentials via more efficient aircraft and SAF compatibility.

For African Aviation

• Sets a benchmark for other African airlines: modern wide-bodies are not just for legacy global carriers.

  
  

• Could encourage more investment in infrastructure (cargo, MRO) in Africa to support such large aircraft.

  
  

• Helps establish Africa’s role in global aviation with a fleet capable of long-range, efficient operations.

What to Watch Next

1. Delivery Timeline: When will the six A350-900s be delivered? Airbus and Ethiopian may announce firm delivery slots.

   
   

2. Network Expansion: Will Ethiopian add or expand ultra-long-haul routes leveraging the new aircraft?

   
   

3. Sustainability Plans: Will Ethiopian accelerate SAF usage on its A350s?

   
   

4. Fleet Growth: Will it convert more of its purchase rights into firm orders?

   
   

5. MRO Partnerships: How will Ethiopian enhance its maintenance and overhaul capabilities for its growing A350 fleet?