ETHIOPIAN Airlines has made a significant move in the aviation industry by placing an order for Boeing 737-8 MAX narrow-body jets, nearly five years after the fatal 2019 MAX aircraft crash that led to the global grounding of the fleet. In March 2019, an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX plane crashed shortly after take-off, resulting in the tragic loss of all 157 passengers and crew on board.
The fatal accident, following a similar incident involving a Lion Air 737 MAX in Indonesia five months earlier, exposed a system problem on the plane, leading to the worldwide grounding of the model. The fallout cost Boeing nearly $20bn and prompted legal proceedings that revealed deficiencies in the certification process.
Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew expressed confidence in Boeing’s corrective measures, stating, ‘We believe we have checked and confirmed that the design defect of that aircraft has been fully corrected by Boeing.’ Tasew announced an order for 20 737 jets and 11 787-9 Dreamliners on the second day of the week-long Dubai Airshow, where Boeing has dominated order announcements.
Tasew further revealed that Ethiopian Airlines expects to exercise options for an additional 21 narrow-body planes, with purchasing options for another 15 787-9 Dreamliner jets. The airline also hinted at an upcoming order for wide-body jets, considering either the Boeing 777X or Airbus A350, in the coming months.
However, concerns about the Airbus A220 jet were voiced by Tasew, who stated that Ethiopian Airlines had considered the A220 as a replacement for turboprop aircraft but would hold off until engine issues were ‘corrected.’ The airline remains cautious, emphasising the need for resolution before placing an order.
Airbus and Pratt & Whitney, the engine manufacturer for the A220, have not yet responded to inquiries about the engine issues. The A220 has faced durability issues, compounded by a shortage of spare engines and maintenance bottlenecks, impacting the availability of working engines and leading to some planes being grounded.
(with Reuters)