DALLAS — Ethiopian Airlines (ET), Africa’s largest Airbus operator and national flag carrier, has received its first A350-1000 from Airbus in Toulouse, France.

Currently, ET operates a fleet of 21 A350 Family aircraft, with 14 additional A350 aircraft set to join the fleet in the coming years. Among these, 11 A350-900 and three A350-1000 aircraft will be acquired. According to Airbus, as of the end of September 2024, 1,340 A350s had been ordered by 60 customers worldwide.

The A350-1000 will provide operational commonality with the A350-900 fleet, facilitating seamless integration with shared pilots and mechanics, simplifying training and maintenance processes.

With a seating capacity of 395, the A350-1000 will significantly increase ET's passenger capacity and enhance the passenger experience in the largest business class cabin in the airline’s fleet. Additionally, the airline will introduce Airbus’ new HBCplus satcom connectivity solution, offering seamless and high-speed gate-to-gate connectivity.

This aircraft, the first of its kind to be operated by an African-based carrier, will significantly enhance ET's premium service on key destinations such as Washington D.C., London, Paris, and Frankfurt.

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