Ethiopian Airlines Orders 10 Bombardier Q400s

Ethiopian Airlines has just signed a firm purchase agreement with Bombardier for 10 Q400s. This new order will further strengthen Ethiopian's short haul fleet and will also help African commercial aviation. This order also includes purchase rights for 5 additional aircraft, however the airline has not as yet announced the purchase rights as firm orders.

At list prices, the order is valued at approximately $332 million. Fred Cromer, President at Bombardier Commercial Aircraft said, “The Bombardier turboprops continue to deliver unmatched performance to our operators, and we are proud that the flag carrier of Ethiopia is once again recognizing its tremendous value by increasing its fleet of Q400 aircraft”. He added, “The market trend for high-performing and larger turboprops is intensifying, and this fifth reorder is a great example of the Q400 turboprop success story and the value it creates for clients around the world.”

The Q400 was designed as a modern, technologically advanced aircraft, capable of flying short haul routes efficiently and at great comfort. The aircraft has turned out very successful and has pleased many customers, including low cost airlines such as Jambojet in Kenya and SpiceJet in India. Currently, Ethiopian Airlines has 21 Bombardier Q400s and used to have 2 on order, bringing the total number of orders for this aircraft up to 12.