Aviation

Ethiopian Airlines to Enhance Widebody Fleet with Acquisition of 20 Boeing 777X Jets

Ethiopian Airlines and Boeing today announced that they have reached an agreement for the East African airline to buy eight 777-9 passenger aircraft, with the possibility of purchasing up to 12 more.

In addition to building on its historic 2023 order for 11 787 Dreamliners and 20 737 MAX aircraft to modernise and expand its fleet, ethiopian airlines has chosen to acquire 777-9 aircraft, making it the first 777X customer in Africa.

The 777-9, which is based on the 777 and incorporates cutting-edge technologies from the 787 Dreamliner family, has new carbon-fiber composite wings and engines, allowing it to outperform rival aircraft by 10% in terms of operational costs and fuel economy. In order to access high-demand markets in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, Ethiopian Airlines wants to expand and refresh its fleet in terms of size, range, and passenger and cargo capacity. The 777-9 will help these efforts.

More than half of Ethiopian Airlines’ current fleet consists of boeing airplanes, which includes 15 737 MAX jets, 20 777s, three 767s, 29 787 Dreamliners, and 27 Next-Generation 737s. Ethiopian Airlines and boeing are still looking for ways to grow the nation’s aerospace industry.

Some of these include providing support for MRO capabilities, industrial development, STEM education, training at the Ethiopian Aviation University, and supplying aerospace exhibits for the Ethiopian Museum of Science.

According to boeing planes Commercial Market Outlook, air traffic in Africa is expected to expand at an annual pace of more than 7% through 2042, making it the third-highest growing area globally and above the global average of about 6%. With a range of 13,510 km (7,295 nautical miles), the 777-9 allows flights from Addis Ababa to as far as Seattle in the United States, giving expanded features for passengers and expansion potential for airlines.

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Aviation

Boeing Resumes 737 MAX Manufacturing After Seven-Week Strike

In a crucial move for its recovery, Boeing has restarted production of its best-selling 737 MAX jetliner, about a month after a significant seven-week strike involving 33,000 factory workers came to an end.

This marks a key milestone for the planemaker, which has been facing considerable challenges in recent years, including heavy debt and a series of setbacks.

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According to the report from Reuters, Boeing resumed the production of the 737 MAX jetliner last week, a pivotal step as the company aims to meet the growing global demand for air travel. With over 4,200 orders from airlines, Boeing’s ability to get the 737 MAX production line back in motion is vital for its financial recovery.

Although Boeing had previously planned to restart production earlier, the company faced numerous obstacles that delayed this process. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) head Mike Whitaker told Reuters on Thursday that while Boeing had not yet resumed production, they had plans to restart by the end of the month.

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The road to this point has been rocky for Boeing. Setbacks such as the tragic fatal crashes of the 737 MAX, the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing supply chain issues, production safety concerns, and increased regulatory scrutiny have all contributed to delays in the company’s efforts to ramp up production.

The seven-week strike, which involved thousands of Boeing’s factory workers, added yet another hurdle. Despite these challenges, production of the 737 MAX officially resumed on Friday, according to one of the anonymous sources.

Boeing, however, declined to comment on the matter. The planemaker is now focused on reaching its goal of producing 56 737 MAX airplanes per month, a target that has been delayed due to the many issues that have beset the company over the past few years.