Ethiopian to receive Boeing 787 Dreamliner tomorrow

Addis Ababa, December 10 (WIC) - Boeing 787 Dreamliner will make its debut on African soil on 11 December 2011 at Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport.

According to a statement Ethiopian sent to WIC on Saturday, the Dreamliner will be in Addis for a few days as Ethiopian’s 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 membership entry into the 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," stated 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."

"The 787 Dreamliner is a game-changing airplane and we are delighted to be able to bring this innovative product to our customers who will soon be receiving their own 787s," said Ray Conner, Vice President of Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

"This airplane is now changing the way the world flies, and we want to share that excitement with as many people as we can."

Ethiopian has an order for 10 Dreamliners and is the first African airline to receive the aircraft. Ethiopian’s first 787 is scheduled to arrive in the second quarter of 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.

Ethiopian provides dependable services to 63 international destinations spanning four continents.