Boeing Company (BA) announced Tuesday that Ethiopian Airlines placed an order for nine 787 Dreamliner jets, giving the aerospace manufacturer another boost to its commercial backlog just days before quarterly results drop.

Building Out Africa's Largest Fleet

Ethiopian Airlines plans to deploy the 787-9 aircraft across its sprawling network, which currently reaches 145 international destinations. The carrier already operates the biggest Boeing fleet in Africa and holds the continent's largest order backlog for 737 MAX, 777X, and 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

This latest Dreamliner order comes on the heels of an 11-aircraft 737 MAX commitment announced at the Dubai Airshow. Both deals were finalized in December 2025, adding 20 fuel-efficient jets to Ethiopian's pipeline.

Boeing's Busy Quarter

The Ethiopian deal caps off a strong finish to Boeing's year. During the fourth quarter, the company delivered 160 commercial airplanes, pushing the full-year total to 600 aircraft.

Boeing also locked in a 50-aircraft 737 MAX order from Aviation Capital Group LLC. Lessors have now ordered nearly 1,300 737 MAX jets, representing roughly one-fifth of the model's total backlog.

Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines committed to 30 787-10 widebody aircraft with options for another thirty planes.

Boeing reports fourth-quarter results on January 27th. Shares traded up 0.01% at $247.71 on Tuesday, hovering near the 52-week high of $248.74.