In a bold move to deepen its industrial footprint and strengthen Africa’s aviation ecosystem, Ethiopian Airlines Group has announced plans to venture into local aircraft manufacturing and component production, building on its decades-long record as the continent’s leading carrier and aviation innovator.
According to birrmetrics.com, Henok Teferra Shawl, Managing Director of Boeing Africa, said the airline’s plan will enable it to supply components directly to Boeing in the coming years. “Ethiopian Airlines is taking concrete steps toward local aircraft manufacturing and will, in time, provide inputs for Boeing,” he revealed to Birrmetrics exclusively.
Central to this effort is the Kilinto Industrial Park facility, launched in 2023 in partnership with the Ethiopian Investment Commission and the Industrial Parks Development Corporation. The plant produces aerospace components, including insulation blankets and electrical wire harnesses. Henok added that since Boeing opened its Africa headquarters in Addis Ababa in April 2025, the company has been supporting local capacity development in STEM and aviation engineering to strengthen technical expertise for the sector.
Ethiopian Airlines is Boeing’s largest customer in Africa. In July 2025, the airline placed an order for 30 Boeing aircraft, including 787 Dreamliners, valued at around 4 billion US dollars. This follows previous orders, including eight 777-9 jets in March 2024, and 31 aircraft — 787 Dreamliners and 737 MAX jets, with options for 36 more — in November 2023, the largest Boeing order ever by an African carrier. The partnership expanded further in April 2025, when Boeing opened its Africa headquarters in Addis Ababa, establishing the city as a regional coordination hub. Ethiopian Airlines has also expanded its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations with new hangars, a component workshop, and a central warehouse.
