Ethiopian Airlines (ET, Addis Ababa International) has signed a firm order with Boeing covering ten new B777 freighters, comprising eight B777-8Fs and two B777Fs, the OEM announced in a statement on September 30, 2026.

This makes Ethiopian Airlines the first African carrier to order the B777-8F, according to Brad McMullen, Boeing's senior VP for commercial sales and marketing.

Reuters earlier reported that Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said the eight B777-8Fs are scheduled for delivery between 2033 and 2035, while the two additional B777Fs are due in 2027 and 2028. The airline also plans to convert four existing passenger aircraft into freighters.

The airline also has the option to acquire eight additional B777-8Fs, according to Reuters.

Boeing said the order is Ethiopian Airlines' second for the B777X family, building on its purchase of eight B777-9 passenger jets that established the carrier as Africa's first B777X customer.

Ethiopian Airlines' cargo division already operates twelve B777-200Fs, alongside two B767-300Fs, one B767-300ER(BDSF), and four converted B737 freighters (one B737-800(BCF) and three B737-800(SF)s) and a passenger fleet of 138 aircraft, according to ch-aviation data.

Mesfin said cargo operations account for about 23% of Ethiopian Airlines' total revenue, supporting continued investment in its freighter fleet and cargo infrastructure.

"This agreement marks another significant milestone in strengthening Ethiopian Airlines' cargo capabilities while supporting the continued expansion of our global network," he said. "The addition of the Boeing 777-8F freighters and 777F freighters will enhance our ability to serve customers around the world with greater payload capacity, operational flexibility, efficiency, and sustainability," he added.