Ethiopian Airlines in Talks for Airbus A220 and A350 Aircraft Order

This article summarizes reporting by Bloomberg. This article summarizes publicly available elements and public remarks.

Ethiopian Airlines is reportedly in preliminary discussions with European aerospace manufacturers Airbus regarding a new aircraft order that could significantly alter its fleet composition. According to reporting by Bloomberg on May 12, 2026, the African carrier is evaluating the potential purchase of approximately 20 Airbus A220 regional jets alongside around six additional A350 widebody aircraft.

The negotiations arrive as the state-owned airline celebrates its 80th anniversary and pursues an aggressive global expansion strategy. With a stated long-term objective of doubling its fleet size by 2040, Ethiopian Airlines is actively positioning itself as a premier global connector to rival industry giants such as Emirates and Turkish Airlines.

Deliberations remain in the early stages, and there is no absolute certainty that a final agreement will be reached or that the proposed aircraft quantities will remain unchanged. Airbus has declined to comment on the specifics, citing the confidentiality of customer discussions, as noted in the original Bloomberg report.

Fleet Diversification and the A220

A potential order for the Airbus A220 would represent a major strategic shift for Ethiopian Airlines. Historically, the carrier has relied exclusively on the Boeing 737 family for its short-haul narrowbody jet operations, supplementing those routes with an aging fleet of de Havilland Dash 8-400 turboprops for domestic and regional flights.

Bridging the Capacity Gap

Industry data provided by The Air Current indicates that the 100-to-160-seat A220 would fill a crucial capacity gap within the airline’s current lineup of 147 aircraft. The regional jet is optimized for thin, point-to-point intra-African routes that may be economically unviable for larger Boeing 737s, yet require more range, capacity, and speed than the existing turboprop fleet.

Securing this order would be a notable victory for Airbus. According to aviation analysts, it would mark the first time the African carrier has purchased this specific European regional jet, representing a significant diversification of its historically Boeing-dominated narrowbody strategy.

Expanding the Widebody Network

Alongside the regional jets, Ethiopian Airlines is reportedly looking to bolster its long-haul intercontinental capabilities with around six additional Airbus A350 widebody aircraft.

Africa’s Largest A350 Operator

The airline is already the largest operator of the A350 on the African continent. According to fleet data from ch-aviation and Air Data News, Ethiopian currently flies 22 A350-900s and four A350-1000s, with another 17 A350-900s already pending delivery. Adding six more airframes would further solidify its intercontinental network, which currently transports over 21 million passengers and more than 850,000 tons of cargo annually to over 140 destinations across 82 countries.

Infrastructure and Supply Chain Realities

This fleet expansion is running in parallel with massive infrastructure investments. The airline is backing a $12.5 billion greenfield mega-airport project in Bishoftu. Designed to become Africa’s largest aviation hub, the facility recently broke ground and is projected to handle 60 million passengers annually upon its initial opening, with plans to expand capacity to 110 million by 2036.

Navigating Delivery Delays

Like many global carriers, Ethiopian Airlines has had to navigate ongoing aerospace supply chain disruptions. Group CEO Mesfin Tasew has previously acknowledged that delivery delays from both major manufacturers have constrained network capacity. Evaluating multiple manufacturers allows the airline to hedge against these global bottlenecks.

The planned deliveries of over 100 aircraft by 2032 are not the end.

According to reports from The Reporter Ethiopia, CEO Mesfin Tasew made this remark during the airline’s 80th-anniversary airshow in Addis Ababa on May 14, 2026. He framed the current order book, which includes over 100 firm orders from both Boeing and Airbus, as just one phase of a much longer-term transformation effort.

Strategic Implications

AirPro News analysis

We view Ethiopian Airlines’ dual-track negotiations with Airbus as a calculated hedge against ongoing duopoly supply chain constraints. By evaluating the A220, the carrier is signaling a willingness to absorb the operational complexity of introducing a completely new aircraft type, which requires distinct pilot training, maintenance protocols, and spare parts inventory, in exchange for greater network flexibility and market expansion.

Furthermore, diversifying the regional fleet away from a strict reliance on Boeing provides the airline with enhanced negotiating leverage for future narrowbody campaigns. If the new Bishoftu mega-airport is to reach its ambitious 60-million-passenger initial target, Ethiopian Airlines will need a highly optimized, high-frequency feeder network across the African continent. The A220 is uniquely positioned to fulfill this role, allowing the airline to profitably open new regional markets that are currently underserved.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many aircraft is Ethiopian Airlines reportedly looking to buy?
According to Bloomberg, the airline is in preliminary talks for approximately 20 Airbus A220 regional jets and around six Airbus A350 widebody jets.

What is the current size of Ethiopian Airlines’ fleet?
The carrier currently operates 147 aircraft and has firm orders for more than 100 new aircraft from both Boeing and Airbus, with deliveries scheduled through 2032.

Why is the airline considering the Airbus A220?
The A220 would fill a specific capacity gap between the airline’s smaller Dash 8-400 turboprops and its larger Boeing 737 narrowbodies, allowing it to efficiently serve thin intra-African routes.

Sources:

• Bloomberg