Ethiopian is evaluating the A220, E2 and also the 737 MAX 7, says CEO
Ethiopian Airlines has been evaluating for several years a possible order for jets with up to 150 seats to fill the gap between its Dash 8 turboprops and the Boeing 737, but has not reached a decision.
Mesfin Tasew Bekele, the airline’s CEO, reiterated that the company intends to order at least 20 jets and also included the 737 MAX 7 among the models being analyzed.
Ethiopian had already mentioned the A220 and the Embraer E2, even indicating a preference for the Airbus aircraft.
Heavier and with greater capacity, the 737-7 is still pending certification, which is expected by the end of the year, according to Boeing.
But the aircraft has an advantage because it shares crew training and maintenance support with the airline, a longtime customer of the U.S. planemaker.
Ethiopian’s fleet totals 141 aircraft, 88 of which are Boeing. There are also 23 A350s and 30 Dash 8-400s.
Bekele, who is speaking at the IATA Annual Meeting in New Delhi, also lamented delays in deliveries of new aircraft from both Boeing and Airbus amid growing passenger demand.
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