The biggest airline in Africa will have to decide which aircraft between the Airbus A220, Embraer E-2 and Boeing 737 MAX 7 they will select for their purchase of 25 planes. This was revealed by the company’s CEO Mesfin Tasew Bekele during IATA’s conference in Rio de Janeiro. He added that Iran war fuel prices are already up by 60%.
RIO DE JANEIRO: Each aircraft represents a unique value proposition for the order of regional jets by Ethiopian Airlines in 2026. The A220 provides better passenger experience and lower costs than the other aircraft. The E-2 is highly competitive on economic grounds, as well as the highest-end aircraft from Embraer in the class. The Boeing 737 MAX 7 will benefit from the commonality with the rest of the Boeing aircraft used by Ethiopian once certified by the FAA this year.
Each aircraft represents a unique value proposition for the order of regional jets by Ethiopian Airlines in 2026. The A220 provides better passenger experience and lower costs than the other aircraft. The E-2 is highly competitive on economic grounds, as well as the highest-end aircraft from Embraer in the class. The Boeing 737 MAX 7 will benefit from the commonality with the rest of the Boeing aircraft used by Ethiopian once certified by the FAA this year.
The Routes These Jets Will Fly
As far as its regional jet purchase program is concerned, Ethiopian Airlines intends to use the 25 aircraft to operate on its domestic flights as well as those between Ethiopia and its surrounding countries. In terms of internal aviation traffic within the African continent, much work needs to be done. The reason for this is that many of the trips made within the continent are still going via only a few major airports instead of flying directly from one point to another. Regional jets make such smaller, less profitable routes viable.
It is expected that Ethiopian Airlines will make up its mind about buying 25 regional jets over the next three months, according to the company’s CEO Mesfin Tasew Bekele, who disclosed this information during the 2026 International Air Transport Association summit held in Rio de Janeiro. The Ethiopian Airlines regional jet purchase of 2026 represents a race between three different aircraft projects: Airbus’s A220, Embraer’s E-2 and Boeing’s 737 MAX 7. The stakes are high for all the three companies as well as for the biggest airline in Africa as it is looking to serve its home continent more efficiently.
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Route cuts to the Middle East and changes in demand
In relation to the purchase of the 25 aircraft for regional routes, it is important to recognize the extent to which the airline’s route map has been altered. Firstly, the war with Iran has led to a decrease in demand for routes through the Middle East, as the airline used to run a high proportion of services from the African continent to Gulf States as transit points for further flights throughout Asia. The cuts have allowed the airline to reallocate its capacity accordingly.
Implications for the Manufacturer
For one, the Ethiopian Airlines’ regional jet order in 2026 is not simply about the figure of 25 aircraft involved. Ethiopian Airlines has been known to be one of the most closely observed emerging market airlines in the airline industry, as an airline that acts as the barometer of air travel demand in Africa. Should there be any Airbus win here, it could well be a boost to the troubled A220 program in its second phase through the addition of a prestigious customer from the African continent.
Should there be an Embraer win here, it would further cement its competitive advantage versus the A220 in the segment in which the Brazilian company had labored long and hard to make a name for itself. Finally, if it turns out to be a Boeing win, then it would affirm the utility of the 737 MAX 7 in the re-established confidence of the MAX line post-certification.
