Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s leading airline, has strengthened its position as the continent’s largest Airbus operator with the delivery of its first A350-1000.
This landmark achievement marks a significant milestone for both the airline and the African aviation industry.
The aircraft, the first A350-1000 to arrive in Africa, landed at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport on Tuesday after a flight from Toulouse, France, where it was welcomed with a traditional water cannon salute.
This delivery is Ethiopian Airlines’ 21st Airbus aircraft, underscoring the airline’s commitment to modernizing its fleet with fuel-efficient and passenger-friendly aircraft.
The A350-1000 was warmly received by Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew, who called the occasion momentous not only for the airline but for African aviation as a whole.
The increased capacity of the new aircraft will help Ethiopian Airlines better serve high-demand routes, particularly to the US and Europe.
The 395-seat aircraft will first operate on promotional flights to eight of its network destinations. Ethiopian Airlines plans to introduce the A350-1000 on its Washington, DC route after these initial trial flights, focusing on key West African cities such as Accra and Lagos to showcase the aircraft’s potential within Africa.
The A350-1000 offers 11% more seating than its smaller counterpart, the A350-900, which Ethiopian Airlines has operated since 2016.
The new aircraft features 46 Business Class seats—16 more than the A350-900—and 349 Economy Class seats, allowing the airline to meet rising demand for premium seating on high-traffic routes.
With its spacious Business Class and larger Economy cabin, the A350-1000 is ideally suited for busy airports like London Heathrow and Frankfurt, where limited landing slots make it essential for airlines to maximize capacity on each flight.
The larger seating capacity and efficient design are expected to improve Ethiopian Airlines’ profitability on routes where demand exceeds available seats.
Ethiopian Airlines began its Airbus journey in 2009 with an order of 12 A350-900s after experiencing delays with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. .
The airline expanded its Airbus fleet in 2017 by converting four A350-900s to A350-1000s and committing to an additional 11 aircraft, bringing its total Airbus orders to 35.
Ethiopian Airlines’ growing partnership with Airbus is a testament to its strategic focus on fleet modernization and improving passenger experience.
In the coming years, the airline plans to welcome 14 more A350 aircraft to its fleet, including 11 A350-900s and three additional A350-1000s.
In addition to expanding its fleet, Ethiopian Airlines is making significant infrastructural investments to support its growth.
The airline recently signed a contract to develop a new airport capable of handling 130 million passengers annually, reinforcing its ambition to become a global aviation hub.
The A350-1000 and A350-900 are similar in design, which simplifies the integration of the larger aircraft into the existing fleet.
This offers operational advantages, including shared pilot training and streamlined maintenance procedures.
