Ethiopian Airlines has confirmed a firm order for eight new Boeing 777-8F aircraft and two existing 777F aircraft. The two 777F aircraft are expected to join the airline's fleet in 2027 and 2028, while the first of the eight 777-8F aircraft will not arrive before 2033. The agreement was signed on September 30, 2026, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Mesfin Tasew, the director general of Ethiopian Airlines, explained that the 777F aircraft will be delivered in 2027 and 2028, while the 777-8F aircraft will arrive between 2033 and 2035. These dates are considered a provisional delivery schedule. Currently, Ethiopian Airlines operates twelve 777F aircraft, along with two 767 cargo planes and four 737-800SF aircraft. According to Boeing, this fleet serves more than 70 freight markets across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. The two new 777F aircraft will integrate seamlessly into the existing fleet. Mesfin Tasew stated that the agreement represents a significant step forward in enhancing the airline’s freight capabilities and supporting the expansion of its global network. The 777-8F is a freight version of the 777X family of aircraft, with a maximum structural payload capacity of 118 tons, compared to 107 tons for the current 777F. The manufacturer says the new model can fly 5,000 nautical miles — about 9,260 kilometers — with 110 tons of payload. It can also carry 31 pallets on its main deck, compared to 27 for the 777F, while maintaining a fuselage section suitable for loading units three meters high. For Ethiopian Airlines, which centers its freight operations around Addis Ababa, the challenge lies as much in maximizing available volume as in ensuring smooth operations between the two generations of 777 aircraft. The firm order covers ten aircraft: eight 777-8F and two 777F. Ethiopian Airlines also has the right to purchase an additional eight 777-8F aircraft. If all of these options were exercised, the agreement could represent a total of eighteen aircraft, including sixteen 777-8F. However, these additional aircraft are not considered firm orders at this time. Mesfin Tasew estimated the ten ordered aircraft to cost approximately $5 billion at the catalog price, though the exact negotiated amount with Boeing was not disclosed. This commitment follows a memorandum of understanding signed in March 2022 between Ethiopian Airlines and Boeing, which expressed the intention to purchase five 777-8F aircraft. The current order adds to the eight 777-9 passenger aircraft announced in 2024, allowing the airline to modernize its long-haul passenger fleet while making a long-term investment in freight operations. Mesfin Tasew also mentioned the potential conversion of four 777 passenger aircraft into freight aircraft, further expanding the airline’s freight capacity.