The Ethiopian Airlines (EAL) said Monday it has begun discussions with Boeing, a US airplane manufacturing company, in a bid to procure 10 up-to-date airplanes at a cost of 1.2 billion US dollars.

EAL, the country's national carrier, will import Boeing 787, named as the dream liner, from the US company, said Kagnew Fisha, EAL's public relations chief.

EAL was one of the 10 airliners worldwide requesting the company for procurement of the new airplanes, he said.

According to Kagnew, the cost of the new airplanes would be secured from foreign banks in loans.

He said EAL has already begun modernizing itself with a view to improving competitiveness in the aviation industry.

Hence, 11 up-to-date airplanes worth over 500 million dollars have been procured and begun services during the last three years, he said.

Boeing will be manufacturing the new airplanes beginning from the year 2008, he said, adding that the procurement of the new airplanes is part of the second phase of the modernization program.

EAL is a major international air carrier and the largest African Airline. It offers convenient service from the United States, Europe and Asia. It provides domestic and international air service between Ethiopia and other countries. EAL has a good safety record and is one of the few profitable African airlines.

Source: Xinhua