Ethiopian Airlines took delivery of its first Boeing 737 Max fleet on Monday (July 2), after the aircraft left Seattle, in the US on a delivery flight via Dublin in Ireland to Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa base.

The B737 Max 8 features the new Boeing sky interior, highlighted by modern sculpted sidewalls and window reveals, with LED lighting that enhances the sense of spaciousness in the aircraft, boosting the customer experience. In addition, the environmentally friendly aircraft has minimal carbon emission and consumes 15% less fuel than the B737-NG.

Biniyam Demssie, Ethiopian Airlines Team Leader Media Relations, told Tourism Update that the aircraft would be used on all flights within a five-hour range of Addis Ababa.

The airline has configured its B737 Max 8 to seat 160 passengers. With the new ultra-modern aircraft, Ethiopian Airlines’ fleet of Boeing aircraft has grown to 73, including the B787 Dreamliner, B777, B737 Max and the B757 and B767.

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Tewolde GebreMariam says: “It is an honour for all of us at Ethiopian to reach this milestone a few days after we marked our 100-fleet milestone, and the latest acquisition is an affirmation of our continuing pioneering role in African aviation and the successful implementation of our fast, profitable and sustainable growth plan, Vision 2025.”

 “Ethiopian Airlines continues to fly at the forefront of Africa’s commercial aviation industry by operating the most advanced aircraft,” says Marty Bentrott, Boeing Sales Vice President for Middle East, Turkey, Russia, Central Asia and Africa. “We are honoured by Ethiopian’s continuing confidence in Boeing airplanes and we look forward to growing our five-decade long partnership.”