Ethiopian Airlines Weighs Order for up to 25 Regional Jets

In Short

• Ethiopian Airlines is preparing to decide within three months whether to place a regional jet order.
• The shortlist includes the Airbus A220, Embraer E‑2, and Boeing 737 MAX 7.
• The airline is weighing up to 25 aircraft to strengthen domestic and regional routes.

What Happened

Ethiopian Airlines says it is close to making a regional jet order decision, with a final call expected within the next three months. Regional jets are smaller passenger aircraft designed for shorter routes, often between major hubs and secondary cities.

The carrier is evaluating up to 25 jets. Options under consideration include the Airbus A220, Embraer E‑2, and Boeing 737 MAX 7. These aircraft compete on range, fuel burn, and seat count, which affects route economics and ticket pricing.

Ethiopian Airlines has positioned the potential order as part of its plan to improve regional connectivity. In practice, that usually means adding more flight frequencies, opening thinner routes that cannot support larger planes, and improving connections into Addis Ababa as the airline’s main hub.

Why It Matters

For African aviation, regional aircraft can change how networks are built. Smaller jets can serve airports with shorter runways and lower demand, which can bring more reliable air links to secondary cities.

For tourism and business travel, more short-haul capacity can reduce total journey time by cutting long layovers and improving schedule choice. It can also make multi-country itineraries easier in East Africa and beyond, especially when overland travel is slow.

The timing also matters. Airlines globally are facing fuel price volatility and pressure to control operating costs. Newer regional jets are typically more fuel-efficient per seat than older aircraft, which can help carriers defend margins while expanding service.

If Ethiopian Airlines places an order, it could influence fleet planning across the continent. Other African airlines watching the decision may treat it as a signal about expected demand for regional air travel over the next several years.