Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s top airline, has solidified its position as the continent’s largest Airbus operator with the delivery of its first A350-1000, a significant milestone for the airline and the African aviation sector. The aircraft, the first to arrive in Africa, landed at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport on Tuesday after a flight from Toulouse, France, and was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute, signifying Ethiopian Airlines’ most recent fleet expansion achievement. The delivery of the A350-1000 is the airline’s 21st Airbus aircraft, demonstrating Ethiopian Airlines’ dedication to updating its fleet with passenger-friendly and fuel-efficient aircraft.
The first of four A350-1000 aircraft was received with delight by Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew, who described the occasion as momentous for both the airline and African aviation in general. The expanded capacity of the new aircraft, he underlined, will enable Ethiopian Airlines to better serve routes with strong demand, especially in the US and Europe. The 395-seat aircraft will first be used by the airline on promotional flights to eight of its network destinations. Ethiopian Airlines’ commitment to offering first-rate services to important international destinations is demonstrated by its plans to introduce the A350-1000 on its Washington, DC route after these trial routes. Notably, the airline has chosen to focus the promotional flights on West African locations such as Accra and Lagos in order to highlight the new aircraft’s potential inside Africa.
The A350-1000 offers 11 percent more seating than its smaller counterpart, the A350-900, which Ethiopian Airlines has been operating since 2016. The new aircraft includes 46 Business Class seats—16 more than the A350-900—and 349 Economy Class seats, allowing the airline to meet the growing demand for premium seats on high-traffic routes. With its spacious Business Class and larger Economy cabin, the A350-1000 is well-suited for busy airports like London Heathrow and Frankfurt, where limited landing slots make it essential for airlines to maximize passenger capacity on each flight. The increased seat count and efficient design are expected to boost Ethiopian Airlines’ profitability on routes where passenger demand consistently outpaces available seats.
Ethiopian Airlines initially began its Airbus journey in 2009, ordering 12 A350-900s after experiencing delays in the entry of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner. The airline expanded its Airbus order book in 2017, converting four A350-900s to A350-1000s and committing to an additional 11 aircraft plus two options, bringing its total Airbus orders to 35 aircraft. Ethiopian Airlines’ growing partnership with Airbus signifies its strategic focus on fleet modernization and enhanced passenger experiences. In addition to the newly delivered A350-1000, the airline has planned for 14 more A350s to join its fleet in the coming years, including 11 A350-900s and three more A350-1000s.
In addition to purchasing individual aircraft, Ethiopian Airlines is making infrastructural investments to support its aspirational expansion. The airline has demonstrated its dedication to becoming a global aviation center by recently signing a contract for the development of a new airport that can handle 130 million passengers annually. The A350-1000 and A350-900 models are similar, which simplifies the switch to the larger aircraft within its current fleet by offering operational benefits including shared pilot training and expedited maintenance procedures.
