Ethiopia: Ethiopian Airlines is planning to order additional Airbus A350-900 aircraft

Ethiopian Airlines is planning to order additional Airbus A350-900 aircraft in the coming years, it was learnt.

Ethiopian placed firm orders for 14 A350-900 aircraft to be delivered between 2016-2019. The initial two which are leased from IFLC (presently Air Cap) will be delivered to Ethiopian in May and June 2016. The remaining 12 due bought from Airbus will be delivered between 2017-2019.

The A350-900 test flight aircraft (MSN2) with carbon livery arrived in Addis Ababa on Wednesday for a demonstration flight. The aircraft conducted a one hour demonstration flight to the South East of Addis Ababa. Workneh Gebeyehu, Minister of Transport, ambassadors, executives of Ethiopian Airlines and other invited guests visited the additional wide body aircraft with a seat capacity of 350. Ethiopian is the initial airline in Africa to order the jetliner in 2009.

During the visit to the test aircraft, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam, said that the A350-900 has an advanced and reliable airplane technology. "It is very comfortable and it burns 25 % less fuel and its carbon emission is low. The A350 will be Ethiopian's core fleet complementing the airlines B787 and B777 fleet."

According to Tewolde, the A350-900 is a very fuel efficient aircraft that will enable Ethiopian to reduce fuel cost. Fuel cost accounts up to 40 % of an airline total expenses. "It is environmentally friendly with less carbon emissions," the CEO said.

Tewolde said that Ethiopian has always been a leader in aviation technology. It was the initial airline to introduce the Boeing jet aircraft in Africa in the 1960s. In 2012 the national flag carrier was the third in the world and the initial in Africa to acquire the B787 Dreamliner aircraft. "Presently history is repeating itself. We will be the initial airline in Africa to operate the A350-900."

Tewolde told The Reporter that the management of Ethiopian is going to order for additional A350-900 aircraft. "We did not from presently on decide the number of aircraft but we are planning to order at least additional ten A350s."

The total price of the 12 A350-900 aircraft Ethiopian bought from Airbus is estimated at 2.9 billion dollars. According to the CEO, Ethiopian will fasten financial guarantee from European Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) for the purchase of the new jetliners. "Once we get the financial guarantee we will invite commercial banks to finance the purchase," he told The Reporter.

John Leahy, Airbus chief operating officer for customers, said that the technologically advanced A350 aircraft was the right choice for Ethiopian Airlines. "We are delivering what we have promised in terms of speed, fuel efficiency and take off and landing performance. The aircraft has the majority modern WIFI access and most advanced cockpit technology. A350 will truly be the spirit of Africa."

Leahy told The Reporter that Airbus is providing technical assistance in terms of training for Ethiopian Airlines. "As Airbus is a new aircraft to them there is will be an ongoing maintenance training program. There are spare provisions underway and we have pilots training program. Of course there will be 24 hour field representatives here helping them with the operation."

Leahy told The Reporter that Ethiopian Airlines has very good reputations with international financing and leasing companies. "They will get credit financing from Europe. There are banks that have been working with Ethiopia so there is no question that Ethiopian will get financing for the purchase of these airplanes." Last week Airbus opened a field office in Addis Ababa.

The Airbus A350-900 aircraft attracted 787 orders from 41 customers. The launch customer of the A350 is Qatar Airways which took delivery of the aircraft early this year. In 2015 Airbus delivered 10 A350s to Qatar Airways, Vietnam Airlines and FinAir. It has a backlog order of 777 aircraft. Airbus will be building 10 A350s by the end of 2018. The European consortium will deliver four A350s to Ethiopian each year between 2017 and 2019 based on the original schedule. "There will be no delays," Leahy said.

Alan Pardoe, Airbus chief of marketing communications, told The Reporter that the aircraft was designed to have a very spacious cabin and bigger seats.

The MSN2 test aircraft was commanded by three senior test pilots of Airbus. Test pilot Jean Michel Roy told The Reporter that the A350-900 was the majority convenient aircraft to fly. "Additional than 50 % of its fuselage is made of fiber composite material. It is powered by a new Rolls Royce Trent engines. It is designed to have higher level of safety standards and maximum efficiency. I am sure Ethiopian will not regret its decision."

This is for the initial time at the same time as Ethiopian ordered for an Airbus aircraft. The airline fleet is dominated by Boeing aircraft inclunding B737,757,767, B787 and B777 jetliners.

"It took us a long time to persuade Ethiopian to buy Airbus aircraft," Pardoe said. "But presently they are witnessing our new jetliner and may go for additional Airbus aircraft."

Airbus built five test flight aircraft of A350-900 which conducted 2500 hours test flights in different geographical locations around the globe.

Last week the MSN2 test flight aircraft flew from Toulouse to Saudi Arabia for similar demonstration flight, again to Kuwait and partook at the annual Dubai Air Show. Next conducting and demonstration flight in Addis Ababa on Wednesday and static display to technical staff of Ethiopian Airlines on Thursday it flew back to Toulouse, France where the final assembly line of Airbus is located.

Ethiopian is as well planning to order up to 20 wide body aircraft. The airline is evaluating the Airbus A350-1000, extended version of A350 and Boeing B777X, a new aircraft designed by Boeing. "We have not from presently on finalized the evaluation," Tewolde told The Reporter. "As our fleet number is growing we need to diversify our fleet," he added.

Ethiopian initial A350-900 aircraft is being assembled in the new final assembly line in Toulouse. Yohannes Hailemariam (Capt.), VP Flight Operations, told The Reporter that Yoseph Hailu (Capt.), director of flight training, will be the initial pilot of the A350 aircraft. "Captain Yoseph will be responsible for A350 fleet" Yohannes said.

Currently, Ethiopian operates 73 aircraft and plans to double its fleet by 2025.