Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Visit Addis Ababa

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner will make its debut on African soil on 11 December 2011 at Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport.

The Dreamliner will be in Addis for a few days as Ethiopian Airlines’ officials, employees, and invited guests have a closer look at the innovations and advanced technologies of the 787. The date also marks the eve of Ethiopian Airlines membership entry into Star Alliance.

“Ethiopian Airlines is very pleased to be the first African airline to receive the environmental leader, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Addis Ababa on its first tour to Africa,” said Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines. “We are also proud to be the first African airline to operate the 787, providing our passengers with better flight experience, continuing our tradition in leading improved performance standards and asserting our leadership on the continent.”

Captain Desta Zeru, Vice President Flight Operations, will fly the new aircraft from Haikou, China to Addis Ababa on 11 December 2011, becoming the first African captain to fly the 787.

Ethiopian has an order for 10 Dreamliners and will be the first African airline to receive the aircraft. Ethiopian’s first 787 is scheduled to arrive in Q2 2012.

 Ethiopian plans to use the 787 to expand its existing destinations as well as its presence in more markets worldwide, including new destinations in the Far East.

See recent travel news from: Travel News Asia, Tickets, Boeing, 787, Dreamliner, Ethiopian Airlines, Addis Adaba