Dreamliner makes first flight in Africa under Ethiopian Airlines

Ethiopian Airlines settled in for a historical milestone after it purchased and received its first Boeing 787 ‘Dreamliner’ ever to be purchased by a non-Japanese airline. The aircraft was received on the 16^th of August at Addis Ababa, the hub of Ethiopian Airlines. It conducted its first flight to the U.A.E at Dubai International Airport on the 19^th.

The Dreamliner received a spectacular welcome with a coronation ceremony here at Lagos airport, during which it was christened ‘African First’ after being baptized with water snorkelled from two fire trucks. Its flight route will be on rotation across Africa, launching from Kilimanjaro to encircle Mombasa, Harare, Entebbe, Johannesburg, Accra and Luanda.

The 66-year-old national flag carrier rises to be Africa’s 2^nd largest airline, enabled with prospects to compete with the cream of the International Airline Industry. Ethiopian airlines have purchased 10 of these 787 airliners, with an additional 4 expected to join the entire fleet in the coming years. The newest addition will allow the airline to operate non-stop intercontinental flights lasting a maximum flight time duration of 20 hours. Ethiopian Airlines will now cover Mumbai, London, Frankfurt, Rome and Dubai as intercontinental destinations under the 787’s flight route.

The 787 has been described as a hallmark in the aviation industry. Equipped and designed with the latest technology at hand with the world’s leading aircraft manufacturer, it has been rightfully titled as the ‘Dreamliner’ while attending to both concurrent requirements experienced by Airline operators and passengers alike.

With 90% of its constituency based on unique compound elements, the Dreamliner has proved to be far lighter in weight to enhance fuel efficiency by 20%. Improved air pressure control, larger windows and onboard humidity are the signature features added for passenger comfort.