ET SEEKS $1.45 BILLION FOR 15 BOEING AIRCRAFT PURCHASE

Ethiopian Airlines is looking for $1.45 billion for the financing of the purchase of 10 Boeing 787-8 and five 737-800 aircraft, with spare engines. Kassim Geresu, chief financial officer of Ethiopian, told Aviation News Online that it was seeking an Ex-Im guaranteed loan, a pre-delivery payment (PDP) loan and junior loan. The total amount is estimated to be around $1.45 billion. Geresu said Ethiopian has already floated an RFP on March 15, 2011 to potential financiers adding that it is waiting for their responses. The national flag carrier placed orders for 10 Dreamliners in 2005. Originally, deliveries were scheduled for