Ethiopian Looking at A350-1000 and 777X

Ethiopian Airlines is considering whether to expand its fleet with the 366-seat Airbus A350-1000 or Boeing's 777X, its chief executive said.

"We have 14 of these A350 and we have more (Boeing) 787s. We are comparing the A350-1000 and also the 777X. Depending on which performs well out of Addis Ababa at altitude and high temperature, we are going to make that decision," GebreMariam said.

Asked how many extra aircraft the airline could order, he said, "between 15 and 20". He did not say when the airline planned to make a decision.

"We want to know more about the A350-1000," he said.

Earlier this month, GebreMariam said the airline was considering whether to order 10 to 15 Boeing 777-8s, one of two planned models still widely known as 777X, the label used before they were launched on the market.

The 777-8 will carry about 350 passengers.

Until now, Ethiopian Airlines has stuck mainly with Boeing aircraft.

"The concern has always been not to diversify too much because different types add complexity to the operation and make the cost of operation very high, so it is not recommended. But we are growing," GebreMariam said.

"The fleet is around 80 now. So any fleet type on its own will be around 20: the minimum size to justify the training of new pilots and technicians. This is the right time. At the same time, for competition reasons, it is required."

Ethiopian Airlines plans to double its fleet by 2025 under a plan called Vision 2025, but Boeing will continue to dominate the airline's fleet as Ethiopian flies the short-haul 737 as well as the long-haul 777 and 787 models.

"They (Boeing) will continue to take the larger share but Airbus will continue to grow," GebreMariam said.