Ethiopian Airlines and Bombardier Commercial Aircraft concluded a firm order for 10 new Q400 aircraft on Friday, April 27, 2018. The order also includes purchase rights for 5 additional Q400 aircraft. Based on the list price of the Q400 aircraft, the firm order is valued at approximately 332 million U.S.
Ethiopian Airlines is the largest operator of Q400 aircraft in Africa. The airline currently operates 22 Q400 turboprops based in Addis Ababa and through its partners at ASKY in Lome and Malawian Airlines in Lilongwe, and is expected to take delivery of two more in 2018.
With this order, Ethiopian will increase its fleet of Bombardier turboprops to up to 39 aircraft after exercising purchase rights.
“The Q400 turboprop is a great network builder. Its unmatched performance and outstanding economics has allowed us to better serve the domestic and regional demand in Ethiopia” said Tewolde GebreMariam, Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines.
Mr. Tewolde added: “As we continue to expand our network and build new strategic partnerships in the region, we are confident that the Q400 aircraft will help us develop underserved markets where challenging airports require distinct operational performance such as hot and high capabilities. With our continued fleet modernization endeavor, we shall soon mark a notable milestone of reaching a 100 fleet capability, thus classifying Ethiopian as the first African carrier to own and operate the youngest and most modern fleet in the continent”.
Ethiopian Airlines’ new 82-seat Q400 aircraft will support additional domestic capacity in Ethiopia, as well as their new partnership hubs in Mozambique, Chad, and Equatorial Guinea.
