Ethiopian Airlines : ET : ETH :

Ethiopian Airlines is to order 12 Airbus A350-900s et 4 Boeing 777-200LRs.
The carrier has detailed the order in a statement, adding that chief executive Girma Wake has signed a "definitive agreement" to purchase the 777s and a memorandum of understanding for the A350s.
Ethiopian says deliveries of the A350s will begin in 2017, and those for the 777s in October 2010.
All A350s are currently only available with Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, while 777-200LRs are exclusively powered by General Electric GE90s

In an unprecedented move ever, Ethiopian has placed an order for five B777-200LRs from the Boeing Company and twelve A350-900s from Airbus. Ethiopian will begin taking deliveries of the B777-200LR in October, 2010 and the A-350-900 in 2017.
The order for the five B777-200LRs is valued at $ 1.3 billion and the twelve A-350-900s at $2.9 billion, both based on list price. The B777-200LR will be powered by General Electric GE90-115 engines while the A-350-900 will be powered by Trent XWB-84.

In an unprecedented move ever, Ethiopian has placed an order for five B777-200LRs from the Boeing Company and twelve A350-900s from Airbus. Ethiopian will begin taking deliveries of the B777-200LR in October, 2010 and the A-350-900 in 2017.
The order for the five B777-200LRs is valued at $ 1.3 billion and the twelve A-350-900s at $2.9 billion, both based on list price. The B777-200LR will be powered by General Electric GE90-115 engines while the A-350-900 will be powered by Trent XWB-84.

We originally planned to certify at 110,000lb thrust, but we did some tests at 115,000lb and didn’t find any issues,” says Andersen. “That’s good news, because we think there’ll be some operators that want 115,000lb for obstacle-limited airports.” GE confirms “the plan is now to offer 115,000lb as the thrust option”, rather than an interim “thrust bump” rating of 113,000lb that was planned until recently.

Ethiopian Airlines is pleased to announce the acquisition of its 2nd MD-11 freighter aircraft from
the Boeing Corporation based in Seattle, USA.

The newly leased MD-11F aircraft has a payload capacity of 95 tons, 32 pallets and a volume of 513 cubic meters. This new acquisition will increase the total capacity of the current cargo service of the airline by 23% thereby enhancing the newly developed cargo market from Europe and South-East Asia.

Ethiopian cargo movement will gain momentum with the increased capacity to its major cargo destinations like Liege, Dubai, Hong Kong, Madras, Jeddah and Mumbai. In addition to these cities, the airlines’ cargo market has
been growing substantially providing air cargo services to/from various points in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Ethiopian provides dedicated cargo services to 19 cities in Africa.

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Ethiopian Airlines' "new" Boeing 737-8AS ET-ANB (msn 29935, ex EI-CSW) is pictured at Lasham before it departed on September 13. Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best.

Ethiopian Airlines' (Addis Ababa) has added ex-Ryanair Boeing 737-8AS ET-ANB (msn 29935).

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Ethiopian Airlines has today ordered 12 Airbus A350 XWB aircraft, bringing total orders for the A350 XWB family to 505, not even three years after launch of the programme.
In selecting the A350-900 to operate from their hub in Addis Ababa on routes to Europe, the US and Asia, Ethiopian Airlines becomes a new member in Airbus’ family of over 300 customers.
“We are committed to investing in industry leading technology to maintain our unrivalled reputation in Africa whilst continuing to grow” said Mr Girma Wake, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines. “The A350-900 uses new technology to bring superior passenger comfort and a step change in fuel efficiency to our rapidly expanding operations.”
“The A350 XWB's extra efficiency and cabin-comfort will strengthen Ethiopian Airlines’ position as a leader and benchmark in African aviation” said Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO. “More than 500 orders from 32 customers is a clear endorsement that the A350 XWB is shaping the future of air travel.”

The A350 XWB Family is Airbus’ response to widespread market demand for a series of highly efficient medium-capacity long-range wide-body aircraft. With a range of up to 8,300 nm / 15,400 km, it is available in three basic passenger versions.

The A350 XWB has the widest fuselage in its category, offering unprecedented levels of comfort, the lowest operating costs and lowest seat mile cost of any aircraft in this market segment. Powered by two new generation Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines, the A350 XWB Family is designed to confront the challenges of high fuel prices, rising passenger expectations, and environmental constraints.

Firm orders for the A350 XWB now stand at 505 from 32 customers worldwide.

[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] chief executive Girma Wake has reaffirmed his airline's commitment to the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and outlined the carrier's plans for its newly purchased [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] XWBs.
Ethiopian Airlines, Wake says, remains the African launch customer for the 787. He says the first of 10 will be delivered in mid-2011.

"We are taking all of the airplanes that we have ordered," says Wake.
Ethiopian initially expected its first 787 in 2008.
Wake also revealed that two of the 10 aircraft on order would be the larger 787-9 variant, for delivery "sometime in 2013".

Ethiopian plans to deploy the aircraft on its African and European routes to replace ageing Boeing 757s and 767s. Despite the prospect of the airline's early 787-8s being overweight, Wake remains bullish on the prospects of the composite 787.
"We are not very happy that it is overweight," says Wake. "But even considering the fact that it is overweight, we believe that for our mid-range routes, it is still a very attractive airplane for routes like Europe to Africa [and] within Africa. And if we can leave the Far East and the American operation to the 777 and the A350, the 787 will definitely be a very good replacement for us on 767 and 757 routes. It will still be a lot better."

Wake also outlined plans to deploy the first of 12 [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] A350-900s, the first of which is due in 2017, but entertained the idea of dry-leasing additional A350s ahead of the first formal delivery.

"We have plans to dry-lease some A350s before that if we see that demand is picking up. New sectors that will come up gradually will be Brazil-São Paulo and more points in the USA. We want to fly to Canada and we want to expand to more points in the Far East such as Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur," Wake says.

[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] is to acquire 10 [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]-800s with deliveries scheduled to begin in November 2011.

Ethiopian Airlines modernise sa flotte de turbopropulseurs.

La compagnie éthiopienne a reçu le premier exemplaire de sa commande de huit Q400, passée en novembre 2008
auprès de Bombardier.

L’appareil est aménagé en configuration monoclasse et peut transporter soixante-dix-huit passagers.
Les Q400 remplaceront les cinq Fokker 50 actuellement en service sur le réseau domestique.
Des Boeing 737-700 et 737-800 opèrent également sur le secteur.

Ethiopian Airlines a décidé de renforcer son engagement envers le réseau domestique. La compagnie a même annoncé la création d’une division spécifique en son sein pour le gérer.

Ethiopian est actuellement en pleine phase de croissance.
Exploitant sept 757-200 et dix 767-300ER sur le long-courrier, elle va considérablement moderniser et développer sa flotte dans les prochaines années.
Elle attend en effet dix 787-8, cinq 777-200LR et douze Airbus A350.

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US Ex-Im provides Ethiopian $1.6bn

Ethiopian Airlines and the US Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank have signed a $1.6bn financing deal to support the purchase of five 777-200LR, 10 787-800 aircraft and a number of spare engines.

"This agreement has made a significant contribution towards the development and growth of our airline," commented Ethiopian’s CEO, Girma Wake.

Wake and Ex-Im chairman Fred Hochberg signed the agreement on August 2 at the ninth African Growth and Opportunity Act Forum in Washington DC.

ADDIS ABABA (AFP) – Ethiopian Airlines, one of Africa's leading carriers, has joined the Star Alliance -- a group of 28 international airlines -- to boost its reach, an official said Wednesday.

The move will offer greater integration in bookings and pooling of air miles for passengers.

"Ethiopian?s extensive intra-African network will provide more choice for our travellers and bring the Star Alliance benefits to new markets," Star Alliance's CEO, Jaan Albrecht, said in a statement.

The agreement comes eight months after the African carrier suffered its worst accident when one of its jets crashed off Lebanon's coast minutes after take-off, killing all 90 people on board.

Egyptair and South African Airways are already the network's members from Africa, which Star Alliance forecast to have the second highest growth rate in air traffic in the coming years.

Three African Airlines To Form New Carrier

Three of Africa’s leading airlines are in talks to establish joint ventures, and could launch their first collaboration in Central Africa early next year.
Details are still being negotiated, although the CEOs of Egyptair, Ethiopian Airlines and South African Airlines tell The DAILY they expect a formal announcement in the coming months. Egyptair Chairman and CEO Hussein Massoud also says the first venture should launch early next year.
All three executives were in Addis Ababa to celebrate Star Alliance’s formal acceptance of Ethiopian’s application to join the airline group. The three said they would discuss their proposed ventures after the event.
Central and West Africa are the group’s primary concern, and the first venture will be located in one of the six central nations—Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon—because the region has a more advanced aviation sector, says SAA CEO Siza Mzimela.
Mzimela adds that this company will be a new airline, although she confirms that future ventures could include investment in existing airlines.
She also confirms that any new entity will focus on intra-African traffic. “There is little feed or de-feed in the region,” she notes. None, for now, will adopt a low-cost model, she adds.
Various business models are being considered, and while Ethiopian CEO Girma Wake noted the potential for direct investment akin to his airline’s involvement with Togo startup ASKY, Mzimela notes that their participation could include non-monetary support.
Egyptair’s Massoud also confirmed the airlines could provide aircraft from their own fleets, although he stressed that many options were still being discussed. “Africa is too big for five or six carriers,” says Wake. “The three of us are working together, so we can create a critical mass.”
The Star Alliance acceptance yesterday of Ethiopian is an “integral part” of Star’s expansion across the continent, which already includes Egyptair’s and South African Airways’ networks. “Demand will mainly stem from economic growth made possible by increasing political stability and creating a better business climate,” said Star CEO Jaan Albrecht. “Moreover, we will in future have three main hubs in Africa—Addis Ababa, Cairo and Johannesburg.”
Star’s CEO also noted an area in Central Africa that is unserved by Star, which he expects to be resolved by Ethiopian’s addition. This proposed expansion is in addition to the 24 new destinations Ethiopian brings to Star’s network.
This acceptance begins a 12- to 18-month process to integrate the airline into the alliance. Apart from Ethiopian, Star is also integrating Air India into the group, although this has been hindered by information technology issues.
Ethiopian’s integration will be aided by Lufthansa, which is mentoring the African carrier’s application.
“We are happy and honored to be invited to the big family of airlines,” said Ethiopian Airlines CEO Girma Wake during the news conference. “Our long experience in the Africa market, coupled with our strategic hub in Addis Ababa, and the recently created Lome hub [in Togo in partnership with ASKY] will allow Star Alliance members to access many new markets in Africa.”
Ethiopian is in talks with Egyptair and SAA to establish new airlines for some of these new markets, Wake told reporters during a Sept. 28 news conference at the airline’s headquarters.
Ethiopian’s acceptance comes just two days before Star founding member United Airlines formally merges with Continental Airlines, which joined the alliance late last year.

Ethiopian prepares for 777-200LRs and 787s

to take delivery of its first Boeing 777, a -200LR that will be used on long-haul routes ahead of the introduction of Boeing 787s.
Ethiopian chief executive Girma Wake says the first of five 777-200LRs the carrier has on firm order will be delivered in November. A second 777-200LR will arrive in December, followed by a third in January 2011.
Wake says Ethiopian expects its final two 777-200LRs will be delivered in April and July 2011. He says the idea is to finish inducting its new 777 fleet just ahead of its first 787 delivery, which Ethiopian still expects will take place in July 2011 despite the latest delays in the programme and the slip in first delivery to launch customer All Nippon Airways to the first quarter of 2011.
Ethiopian has 10 787s on order and Wake says all 10 will be delivered by the end of 2012. He says the carrier has begun preparations, including a plan for training pilots, to induct 10 787s in only an 18-month window.

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Wake says Ethiopian plans to deploy its 787s on Asian, African and European routes, although it will be up to his successor to decide on which specific route will get the 787 first. Ethiopian recently announced that Tewolde Gebremariam, currently the carrier's chief operating officer, will take over as Ethiopian's chief when Wake retires at the beginning of next year.
Wake says Ethiopian's initial batch of three 777-200LRs will be used primarily to replace Boeing 767s on services from Addis Abba to Beijing and Washington Dulles. He says these aircraft will also be deployed during daylight hours in dense African markets including Angola and Nigeria.
Ethiopian expects to use its second batch of 777-200ERs to launch service in summer 2011 to Toronto, which will the carrier's second North American destination. Wake says Ethiopian is also now studying launching service to several other US destinations including Atlanta, Houston and New York.
Ethiopian's jet passenger fleet currently consists of 11 Boeing 767-300ERs, nine 757-200s and seven 737-700/800s, according to Flightglobal's ACAS database. In addition to its first 777s, Wake says Ethiopian will take three additional 737-800s in the fourth quarter of this year, which will be used to further expand the carrier's African network.
Ethiopian is eagerly awaiting the delivery of additional aircraft to support its ambitious expansion plan. Wake says its current fleet is being operated at maximum capacity, including 16h daily average utilisation on its 767s. "I think the capacity we have today is not adequate for the market," Wake says. "Africa can still accommodate more capacity. Any airplane we get we'll definitely utilise."

Ethiopian Airlines considers 777F and more A350s

[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] is eyeing [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] freighters and more [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] A350s as part of its new strategy for the period to 2025, which will see it expand to a fleet of 119 aircraft.
Ethiopian has selected the latest-variant [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] 737s as its short-haul type and is replacing its medium-haul Boeing 757s and 767s with 787s. But while it has 777-200LRs and A350s on order, it is still evaluating its long-haul options. Chief executive designate Tewolde Gebremariam says the carrier will add to the 12 A350s it has on order, but the first will not be delivered until 2017, so more 777s may be an interim solution.
The 777s may also make up for delays to Ethiopian's [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] deliveries, which were to have begun around September 2011 until the recent test programme fire incident "put a question mark over that plan", says Gebremariam.
The 777 also features in Ethiopian's freighter evaluation. Ethiopian operates two Boeing MD-11Fs, two 757 freighters and two 747-200s on lease from Southern Air. By 2015, it expects to have grown its freighter fleet to 16 aircraft.
"The 777 is highly efficient, but there is a contour [size] issue," says Gebremariam. "It is big, but not as big as the 747, so we might take 747-400s, but we are still doing our evaluations. We are looking for three or four aircraft immediately."
Separately, Ethiopian has joined forces with EgyptAir and South African Airways in an informal co-operative grouping that could lead to equity investments in smaller carriers.
Through the informal tie-up, the three airlines aim to make their African coverage more complete. They plan jointly to fill network gaps and offer connections to countries with weak carriers or no air links.
"We are the three biggest airlines on the continent," says EgyptAir chairman Hussein Massoud. "A lot of destinations, especially in central and west Africa, are not covered, and if passengers want to get from 'A' to 'B' they need to go via Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris or wherever. We feel guilty about this and we want to do something about it."

Ethiopian Airlines Leases Two Boeing 777F Aircraft
Ethiopian Airlines has signed a ten year dry lease agreement for two brand new Boeing 777F aircraft powered by GE90 engines.The aircraft have been leased from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS). The leased B777Fs are long range modern freighter aircraft models with capacity to transport hundred plus tons of cargo at a time.
The leased aircraft will arrive from Boeing Manufacturing in Seattle USA, at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in September and October 2012.
GECAS has a fleet of over 1,800 owned and managed aircraft with approximately 245 airlines in over 75 countries, with offices in 25 cities around the world.

Ethiopian gets first 787 in January, readies for Guangzhou

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A report out from the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation this morning says Ethiopian Airlines is set to receive its first 787 in January 2012 and will first deploy the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] from Addis Ababa to Guangzhou, China. Further, after taking delivery of the aircraft (Airplane 39) - currently sitting at position three in final assembly in Everett, Washington - will be flown to Washington's Dulles International Airport on a publicity stop on its way to Addis Ababa. Most of the 10 787s the carrier has on order will be used on [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], replacing older 757s and 767s.

Ethiopian Airlines a pris livraison de son cinquième Boeing 777-200LR le 22 juillet.

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Ce nouvel appareil, baptisé "The Sahara" a immédiatement quitté Everett pour Addis-Abeba via Paris.

Les 777-200LR de la compagnie éthiopienne sont les seuls appareils de ce type en service sur le continent africain (hors pays du CCG) depuis leur première livraison en novembre 2010.

Configurés avec une cabine biclasse de 321 sièges (34 en Business et 287 en classe économique), ces très long-courriers sont principalement dédiés à la desserte de Washington et de Pékin.

Le futur membre de Star Alliance est également la compagnie de lancement du 787 en Afrique subsaharienne avec une commande portant sur dix appareils.

Son premier Dreamliner est attendu au premier trimestre 2012.