Air Freight News

Ethiopian Airlines signs lease agreements with AerCap for two Boeing 777-300ERSF converted freighters

Mar 25, 2026

Ethiopian Airlines, the largest airline in Africa, is pleased to announce that it has signed lease agreements with AerCap Holdings N.V. for two Boeing 777-300ERSF converted freighters. The aircraft, also known as "The Big Twin," will be the first of its type to operate in Africa, with the deliveries scheduled for Q2 2028.

Commenting on the lease agreements, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said, “We are delighted to partner with AerCap to bring the first Boeing 777-300ERSF to Africa. These aircraft will significantly enhance our cargo capacity and efficiency, boosting trade in the region. As demand for air freight continues to grow, Ethiopian Airlines remains committed to investing in modern, sustainable solutions that cement our position in the global cargo market.

We are delighted to deepen our long-standing partnership with Ethiopian Airlines – the first customer to operate this aircraft type in Africa - through this important transaction,” said Aengus Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of AerCap. "With 25% more capacity than today's smaller twin-engine long-haul freighters, the 777-300ERSF delivers significant cost efficiencies and will position Ethiopian Airlines to further expand its growing cargo platform. We are proud to support Ethiopian Airlines and wish them continued success as they scale and strengthen their operations.

Similar Stories

https://www.ajot.com/images/uploads/article/WACD_22.png
WorldACD Weekly Air Cargo Trends (week 22) - 2026
View Article
https://www.ajot.com/images/uploads/article/WESTJET-_an_Alberta_Partnership-WestJet_and_Icelandair_deepen_pa.jpg
WestJet and Icelandair deepen partnership with reciprocal codeshare agreement
View Article
https://www.ajot.com/images/uploads/article/EIA_28_1.png
U.S. jet fuel production rises after prices doubled in March
View Article
https://www.ajot.com/images/uploads/article/u-s-airlines-fuel-price-per-gallon-jan20-apr26_crop.png
U.S. airlines’ April 2026 aviation fuel cost up 26.2%, consumption down 2.6%
View Article
https://www.ajot.com/images/uploads/article/DL89.jpg
Delta marks inaugural Hong Kong–Los Angeles flights
View Article
Digitalization in air cargo: What sets it apart from other industries?

While air cargo digitalization has accelerated dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic, it is still ranked as low to mid-tier in digital transformation maturity when compared to other industries such as…

View Article