Ethiopian Airlines is in early-stage discussions with Airbus for a potential order of six additional A350 widebody aircraft and up to 20 A220 narrowbody jets, according to reports from Bloomberg and other outlets citing sources familiar with the matter.
The talks, which remain preliminary with no firm decisions on quantities, would mark Ethiopian’s entry into the A220 program. The airline currently operates no A220s but maintains a fleet of 26 A350s, including 22 A350-900s and four A350-1000s, with 17 more A350-900s pending delivery.
This potential order aligns with Ethiopian’s expansion efforts, including construction of Bishoftu International Airport near Addis Ababa. Set to open in 2030 with an initial capacity of 60 million passengers annually, expanding to 110 million by 2036, the $12.5 billion project will feature two initial runways and space for 270 aircraft.
Ethiopian’s current fleet totals 158 aircraft, dominated by Boeing types such as 41 active 737s, 28 787 Dreamliners, and 21 777s, alongside 30 Dash 8 turboprops. Recent moves include firming options for 15 Boeing 787-9s earlier this year and ordering six A350-900s at the 2025 Dubai Airshow.
The A220, seating 100 to 160 passengers, would fill a gap between Ethiopian’s turboprops on thin regional routes and larger 737s, offering jet performance for domestic and intra-African flights. In June 2025, CEO Mesfin Tasew noted evaluations of regional jets including the A220, Embraer E2, and Boeing 737 MAX 7.