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Browsing Tag: Cloud Nine

Ethiopian Airlines Takes Delivery of Their First Boeing 787 Dreamliner

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You cannot have a delivery ceremony without a ribbon cutting. Image from Boeing.

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.

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.

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.

Ethiopian’s first 787 at Paine Field yesterday. Photo by Boeing.

ADDITIONAL ETHIOPIAN BOEING 787 PHOTOS:
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