The Ethiopian company signed an agreement with Boeing covering eight 777-8F and two 777F, with one option for eight additional aircraft. This order is expected to increase its cargo fleet from 19 to 37 aircraft by 2035.
Ethiopian Airlines signed an agreement with Boeing on 30 September in Addis Ababa to acquire ten cargo aircraft. The order consists of eight Boeing 777-8F and two current-generation 777F.
Ethiopian Airlines thus became the first African airline to order the 777-8F, the US manufacturer's new long-haul cargo model. The two 777Fs are to be delivered in 2027 and 2028, while the eight 777-8Fs are expected between 2033 and 2035.
The catalogue price of the ten aircraft is estimated at $5 billion, but the amount actually negotiated between the two groups remains confidential. Ethiopian Airlines also has an option for an additional eight 777-8F.
In August 2026, the company had a fleet of 19 aircraft dedicated exclusively to freight, consisting of 12 Boeing 777F, three Boeing 767F and four Boeing 737 converted aircraft. It also plans to convert four passenger aircraft into cargo aircraft over the next few years.
This expansion accompanies the group's growth in cargo activity. Ethiopian Airlines transported 897 000 tons of cargo during the 2025/2026 fiscal year, 16% more than a year earlier, while its cargo capacity increased by 8%.
The company currently serves more than 70 international freight destinations on five continents and combines its all-cargo aircraft with the capacity available in the cargo hold of its passenger flights. Its objective is to have 37 cargo aircraft and to serve 90 destinations dedicated to freight by 2035.
The development of the fleet is accompanied by investments in logistics infrastructure. In Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Airlines operates a dedicated e-commerce platform capable of processing up to 150,000 tons per year.
The future Bishoftu International Airport, located about 40 kilometres from Addis Ababa, is also expected to incorporate a freight handling capacity of up to 3.73 million tons per year over time. These infrastructures must accompany the expected increase in freight flows and the development of the company's cargo network.
