Ethiopian’s 787 taxis at LAX to gate 134
With the arrival of flight ET504 into the new Tom Bradley International Terminal on June 20th, Ethiopian Airlines officially kicked off its service between Addis Ababa and Los Angeles, via Dublin.
The festivities, punctuated with live music as well as traditional Irish and Ethiopian dancing, celebrated the first time a carrier based in Africa has served Los Angeles.
These service additions are part of Ethiopian’s overall strategy to dominate the African market. By maximizing fleet utilization and picking up a route that Aer Lingus abandoned in 2008, Ethiopian Airlines has smartly connected the large Ethiopian and Irish communities in Southern California to their respective native homelands, proverbially killing two birds with one stone.
Dancing and singing outside Gate 134
’œOur new flights connecting Addis Ababa, Dublin, and Los Angeles will play a critical role in the expansion of trade, tourism investment between the fast growing continent of Africa, and the United States and Ireland,” said Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group.
Dublin becomes the 14th European destination for the airline, while Los Angeles is the third city served in the Americas, along with Washington, and Toronto.
Connecting Eastern Africa to the West Coast, a span of over 9,100 miles, was made economically feasible with the fuel-efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Ethiopian is the first African airline to operate the type, opting for the 787-8 variant configured with 24 lie-flat seats in business class and 246 seats in economy.
Ethiopian 787 from the terminal
“[The 787] offers unmatched on-board comfort especially for such a very long haul route with its unique features such as greatly reduced noise, higher cabin air humidity, biggest windows in the sky, and spacious cabin interior,’ Gebremariam said.
Ethiopian currently operates the largest 787 fleet in Africa, with 13 in service and six more on order. The airline also has the largest total fleet in Africa with 74 aircraft, plus 45 on order.
Ethiopian CEO Tewolde Gebremariam speaking to the crowd
Inaugural Flight ET504 left Addis Ababa with 208 passengers. After making the stop in Dublin, ET504 continued on to Los Angeles and arrived approximately 50 minutes behind schedule.
In a display unique to the severe drought conditions plaguing California, the aircraft was met by fire trucks with only lights and sirens, rather than the more traditional water cannon salute.
As it pulled into Gate 134, several flag-waving Ethiopian nationals and VIPs were on the airport ramp to greet the 787.
An inaugural wouldn’t be complete without a ribbon cutting
Ethiopian Ambassador H.E. Girma Birru, L.A. City Councilman Curren Price, Jr., and CEO of Tourism Ireland Niall Gibbons were among the several dignitaries and officials who were on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti appeared in a video message to offer welcome and congratulations.
Even Wolfgang Puck was on hand to offer a few words, quipping that he was “proud to be half Ethiopian.” The celebrity chef was there with his wife Gelila Assefa, who is originally from Ethiopia.
The check-in counter at LAX’s TBIT
After spending almost the rest of the day at LAX, the 787 will make its return flight to Addis Ababa via Dublin as ET505, departing at 11:45pm.
The current service schedule is as follows:
ET504, departing Addis Ababa at 10:50pm and arriving into Dublin at 5:05am+1
ET504, departing Dublin at 6:15am and arriving into Los Angeles at 9:15am
ET505, departing Los Angeles at 11:45pm and arriving into Dublin at 6:30pm+1
ET505, departing Dublin at 7:45pm and arriving into Addis Ababa at 6:15am+1
This story was written by John Nguyen (@VNAFlyer) for AirlineReporter.
Hello – could you please correct the arrival time of ET505 into Dublin – it should be 630PM. Can you tell me how many passengers boarded in Dublin?
Regards
Patrick Kavanagh ( Dublin, Ireland)
Ethiopian airlines has the rudest and worst informed customer
service I have ever dealt with,
The can’t answer the simplest question, and then they put you on hold
and never get back on the phone.
Hi Patrick, thank you for pointing out the error, and we’ve made the proper correction. I will also try to find the answer to your question.
Best,
John
Actually, Ethiopian is the second African airline to serve LAX. Egypt Air had a short-lived service a few years ago.
Actually, Ethiopian serves four cities in the Americas as they fly to Sao Paulo as well
Ethiopian Airlines 787, is another great addition to the family of 787’s coming and going at Los Angeles International Airport. It’s another airline that uses the Boeing 787, as well as United Airlines, American Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Virgin Atlantic as well as LAN.
I made a video of Ethiopian Airlines 787 Landing at Los Angeles International, I have included the link below. If you like to watching airplane video’s, I have made many more of planes landing and taking off at Los Angeles International Airport, and they will be at PlanesZone.Com.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbUEXicQO7g
Which terminal is it found ( Ethiopian airlines desk)?
Hi Dave, Ethiopian is located in the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX, and out of Terminal 1 in Dublin.
John | AirlineReporter
Martin Conlan Flight # 071 904 985 3220
9:54 AM (2 hours ago)
Attention Customer Service January 9 2015 Los Angeles Ticket Office
Mr. ataklti kiros,
Martin Conlan was not able to make the above flight number on January 7 due to Ethiopian Airlines as no customer service agent was at the desk to check in luggage or print boarding pass. Martin Conlan was being called over the loud speaker to report to Gate 130. But as no one was at the ticket counter to assist us, we were not allowed to proceed to Gate 130.
Martin Conlan needs to get home to Dublin Ireland ASAP as he has family issues. Please waive the dollar amount for the flight as it was not his fault. Please email or call us at the cell # 818 383 8520
He would like the next available Flight to Dublin for Monday January 11 .
Thank you
Martin Conlan
Any flying from Dublin airport to Addis. Abab. Airport. My Question is.
When u departure Dublin airport. . Did you go through
Ireland. Immigration Exit passport control ?
Or any Iresh. Immigration exit passports. Checking.
Exit passport. Stamps.
Because. Just. Wann. Know. If. They checked. If u. OVERSTAY. VISA. Ireland.
Or. Don’t. Immigration. Passport. Control
Please. Some. Help. Me
Any flying from Dublin airport to Addis. Abab. Airport. My Question is.
When u departure Dublin airport. . Did you go through
Ireland. Immigration Exit passport control ?
Or any Iresh. Immigration exit passports. Checking.
Exit passport. Stamps.
Because. Just. Wann. Know. If. They checked. If u. OVERSTAY. VISA. Ireland.
Or. Don”t. Immigration. Passport. Control
Please. Some. Help. Me
I need information about. Dublin airport departures did. Go. Though. Ireland
immigration. Exit passports. Stamp.
Please.