Ethiopian Airlines and Boeing Sign MOU for B787 Landing Gear Exchange Program

Boeing has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ethiopian Airlines during the Dubai Air Show in Dubai.

This MOU is geared towards helping the airline save cost on its maintenance operations with Boeing’s 787 landing gear exchange program.

“As the fastest growing airline in Africa, much of our success depends on our ability to seek out new ways to drive operational efficiency in our processes,” said Tewolde GebreMariam, Group Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Airlines.  “As the commercial airline market continues to recover, we believe these services offered by Boeing provide a reliable way to realize more stability and predictability in managing our overall maintenance operations and costs across our fleet.”

With the landing gear exchange program, Boeing will guarantee availability of 29 landing gear ship-sets wherever and whenever they are needed to support the Ethiopian 787 fleet, enabling more efficient and cost-effective maintenance operations.

The Boeing 787 landing gear exchange program greatly simplifies the contracting, scheduling and management of the landing gear overhaul process.  Through this program, air carriers can quickly exchange landing gears that need to be repaired or overhauled with a replacement set of certified landing gear from a dedicated resource pool maintained by Boeing.

By managing all parts, engineering and technical aspects of the program, Ethiopian Airlines will have the flexible exchange solution they need to repair and replace landing gear while lowering inventory costs.  Boeing will also provide access to loaner Landing Gear ship-sets and parts during unexpected AOG situations.

“We value our long-standing relationship with Ethiopian Airlines, and are pleased to be able to provide these reliable and cost-effective services to help drive efficiency in maintenance and flight operations for their fleet,” said Anbessie Yitbarek, vice president of Commercial Services Sales and Marketing for Boeing.  “We look forward to implementing these programs to help them reduce maintenance time and quickly return their airplanes to service, and gain the optimal value from these services.”

About Ethiopian

Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its seventy-five years of operation, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivaled in efficiency and operational success. Ethiopian commands the lion’s share of the Pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 130 international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents. Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Airbus A350, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-200 Freighter, Bombardier Q-400 double cabin with an average fleet age of seven years. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft. Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that will see it become the leading aviation group in Africa with Seven business units: Ethiopian International Services; Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services; Ethiopian MRO Services; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian ADD Hub Ground Services, Ethiopian Airports Services and Ethiopian Express Services (Domestic). Ethiopian is a multi-award-winning airline registering an average growth of 25% in the past seven years.