WASHINGTON: US air manufacturer Boeing announced that Ethiopian Airlines has ordered 10 next-generation 737-800s, in a deal valued at 767 million dollars.

Ethiopian Airlines, based in Addis Ababa, is aiming to expand its fleet and broaden its network, which has been operating Boeing planes since the airline's founding in 1945, according to Boeing.

"Ethiopian Airlines has been among the most profitable airlines in the region and one of our most valued partners," Marlin Dailey, vice president of Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said in a statement.

Ethiopian Airlines chief executive Ato Girma Wake said the Boeing 737 series "has proven to be a reliable and profitable component of our fleet."

Ethiopian operates five 737-700s and two 737-800s. It also operates nine 757s and 10 767s, and was the first African carrier to sign up with Boeing for its 787 Dreamliner, ordering 10 of them in 2005.

Earlier this month Boeing said it delivered 481 commercial aircraft in 2009, in line with its forecast, despite difficult economic conditions.

The Boeing 737 remained the company's top seller with 372 deliveries for the year.