You cannot have a delivery ceremony without a ribbon cutting. Image from Boeing.
Yesterday, Ethiopian Airlines took delivery of their first Boeing 787 Dreamliner at Paine Field in Everett, WA. The aircraft is named “Africa First.”
“Today begins the first day in a new era of flying for our passengers and brings us even closer to our vision for the future, Vision 2025,” said Tewolde GebreMariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines. “We are pleased to be the first airline in the world outside Japan to receive this technologically advanced aircraft. We have been waiting for this airplane and now that we officially have it and will show it to the world, I can say with pride, it was worth the wait. This airplane is going to move Ethiopian Airlines to the forefront of aviation leadership around the globe.”
Ethiopian’s Cloud Nine (Business Class) cabin on the 787. Image from Ethiopian Airlines.
The aircraft landed in Washington DC and will continue heading west to Bole Addis Ababa International Airport (ADD) in Ethiopia tomorrow.
“Today marks not just another milestone for Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines, but a new beginning in our 65-year partnership,” said Van Rex Gallard, vice president of Sales for Africa, Latin America, & Caribbean, Boeing Commercial Airplanes during the delivery ceremony. “Ethiopian Airlines continues to show their strong leadership in African aviation and their growing presence around the globe. Being the first in Africa and one of the first in the world further confirms their position globally.”
A flight attendant in the 787’s economy class. Image from Ethiopian Airlines.
Ethiopian is the first non-Japanese airline to take delivery of the Dreamliner and they have nine additional 787s on order. The airline will begin daily flights between DC and Addis Ababa using the 787 on October 20th, a route that is currently operated by a Boeing 777-200LR.
Ethiopians 787 is laid out with 24 seats in Cloud Nine and 246 seats in economy.
Ethiopian’s first 787 at Paine Field yesterday. Photo by Boeing.
ADDITIONAL ETHIOPIAN BOEING 787 PHOTOS:
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Finally, the world gets to see a beautiful aircraft from Africa, no disrespect for Japans great faith and trust in Boeing. Since Japan greatly partnered in this creative and technological quantum leap with this aircraft. Its just that now has a formidable aircraft to join the leading airlines in travel.
Ooh yeah !! I’m one of 12 painters that painted this machine leading edge aviation baby ..
It is the beginning. We became world”s best……..
I proud by our Airlines to be the first in Africa and second in the World realy ya ya ya ya ………. Mesele Mengistu
Last two weeks i got your special serving
When i came from Canada now i fell i’m blessed by 787
I PROUD TO ETHIOPIAN ALLAYS THE FIRST CUSTOMER
SERVING AIRLINES
LOVELY
wow!!! I proud you and your work and also buying this air dreamliner 787 next to japan .
may be one day passenger to this.
what a wander that is its really dream cam’s true
I think this is the beginning … hoping hard working for the feature to become the leader in good customer service and quality Airline transportation service … Good luck Ethiopian … and forget what the -ve thinkers thought …
We really proud of you ……..Africa First go again to replicate such excelling experience to other area…..
Shows how our Aviation Industry is developing,Fabulous!!!!!
The aircraft landed in Washington DC and will continue heading west to Bole Addis Ababa International Airport (ADD) in Ethiopia tomorrow.
Last time I checked, that would be EAST.
Proud to fly Ethiopian, again. This air craft is really a good flying machine
Sad, Ethiopia is THE first to acquire a dreamer however last to eradicate starvation. Where is the priority? What a joke? This is a shame to human kind.
IF u have a chance to fly with Dreamliner and come to Ethiopia
U will c z diffrence ,but i don’t think u have one …..
Posting the past it dosen’t tell ppl that u r uptodate….please b4 u talk or write
Think 2wice may b 10 times atleast googel some thing…
Oh i want to fly Dreamliner, realy I like too much Ethiopian Air lines, b/c i am one of the staff.