Ethiopia Airlines plans to buy five 777-200LR aircraft from Boeing. This will be part of its large Airbus order that is worth $4.2 billion. It will also be taking 787 Boeing jets.

The first of their order for the new, extra large 777’s will come through in October of next years. Three months later they expect delivery of the smaller 787’s. However, Boeing has had several delays in their production of the 787’s. The airline should have received some of their 787’s already, but they are outstanding. Boeing will announce the new schedule in late September for getting their 787’s up in the air.

With clear motivations for expansion, Ethiopia Airlines has signed a memorandum of understanding that they will acquire a dozen A350-900’s from Airbus beginning in 2017. These aircrafts have also been subject to delays by Boeing.

The order is one of the largest ever by an African Airlines and it represents larger plans for Ethiopia to make efforts to grow its own tourist industry. Ethiopia will be planning to use these new planes to set up direct routes between Addis Ababa and North America and between Addis Ababa and China and other spots in Asia.