Ethiopian Airlines has committed to purchasing eight of Boeing’s upcoming 777-8F aircraft along with two additional 777F freighters at a signing ceremony attended by US Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ervin Massinga.
On September 20, 2026, the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Mesfin Tasew, met Boeing Senior Vice President of Global Sales, Brad McMullen to put pen to paper on the agreement.
As part of the contract, Ethiopian Airline has an option to purchase a further eight next-generation Boeing 777-8Fs in the future.
According to local media, the two 777Fs are scheduled to be delivered between 2027 and 2028, while the 777-8Fs will arrive between 2033 and 2035. The 777-8F is not expected to enter service until around 2029.
According to ch-aviation-data, Ethiopian Airlines currently operates 12 777-200Fs, two 767-300Fs and four 737-800SFs.
Reports that Ethiopian Airlines was nearing an agreement to purchase 10 777 freighters emerged in early September 2026, after Reuters spoke with two industry sources.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently granted Boeing an exemption from fuel-efficiency limits that start in 2028, enabling the company to sell 35 additional 777F freighters.
Boeing petitioned for a waiver from the new rules in December 2025, citing the fact that the 777F would no longer be eligible to fly after December 31, 2027.
“Additional 777Fs are needed after January 1, 2028, to maintain an uninterrupted supply of large freighters to the market prior to the introduction of the 777-8F,” Boeing wrote. “This petition therefore requests exemption of a total quantity of 35 777F airplanes until achievement of 777- 8F first delivery and entry into service.”
On September 16, 2026, Boeing wrote: “The Boeing Company is granted an exemption from the requirements of 14 CFR part 38, subpart B and the referenced Appendix A to the extent necessary to provide Boeing the opportunity to obtain first certificates of airworthiness for up to thirty-five newly built 777F airplanes issued on or after January 1, 2028, through January 1, 2031.”