Ethiopian Airlines Denies Reports of Aircraft Lease Talks with Russia

Addis Ababa – August 5, 2025
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew has firmly denied reports claiming the airline is in negotiations to lease aircraft to Russia, calling the allegations “completely false.”

The statement comes in response to a recent article published by Capital newspaper, which suggested that Ethiopian authorities were in talks with their Russian counterparts regarding a potential aircraft leasing arrangement—specifically, a wet-lease deal that would include aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance.

According to the Capital report, the topic was raised during a bilateral meeting between Ethiopian and Russian officials held last month, where both sides expressed interest in expanding aviation cooperation. However, no formal agreement was reached, and the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) clarified that while discussions did take place, it has no mandate to instruct Ethiopian Airlines to lease aircraft and has not done so.

Speaking to the press, CEO Mesfin outlined two primary reasons why Ethiopian Airlines is not pursuing such a deal:

1. Fleet Demand:
   The airline is currently expanding its own operations and actively seeking additional aircraft to meet growing passenger and cargo demands. “We are in need of more planes ourselves,” Mesfin noted, emphasizing that leasing out aircraft is contrary to the airline’s current strategy.
2. Sanctions and Compliance Risks:
   The CEO cited geopolitical and legal constraints as a more critical reason. “Russia is under U.S. sanctions, and Ethiopian Airlines has strong operational and commercial ties with the United States,” Mesfin stated. “We operate under international regulations and U.S. law, and we are not willing to take the risk of violating those laws.”

Ethiopian Airlines is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most successful and professionally managed carriers. With a fleet of over 140 aircraft and growing global partnerships, the airline plays a strategic role in connecting the continent with the rest of the world.

The international aviation outlet Simple Flying also mentioned the rumored lease in its coverage of the Russia-Ethiopia aviation dialogue but did not confirm any formal deal. The Russian government has expressed interest in leasing foreign aircraft to mitigate the impact of Western sanctions, which have severely constrained its access to new planes and spare parts.

Nonetheless, Ethiopian Airlines appears to be steering clear of the geopolitical complexities, opting instead to focus on its growth strategy and maintain regulatory compliance with its Western partners.