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Sunday, April 29, 2012

► ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Airlines prepares for the arrival of its maiden 787.

Ethiopian
Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has been busying itself getting ready for the arrival of the first of its 10 Boeing 787, to be delivered sometime in summer of 2012, though exact dates have yet to be announced.

While in Seattle to meet with Boeing executives to discuss delivery of the airline’s first 787 Dreamliners, the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Tewolde Gebremariam took a special tour of the Ethiopian first 787 to be delivered later this year. Mr. Tewolde met with Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Commercial Airplanes; as well as Larry Loftis, 787 vice president and general manager; and other program leaders to discuss the airline’s first delivery and to receive an update on the 787 program and production.
“With our first delivery fast approaching, it was important for me to be in Seattle to meet with the leadership team there to make sure we are on track for our delivery and see how our first airplane is progressing,” said Mr. Tewolde Gebremariam.
Read More Here [Ethiopian Airlines]

ET's 787 patiently awaits its engines (© David Lednicer)
Crew training has also been completed, with 8 pilots successfully completing their training at London's Gatwick Airport.
“This is an important milestone in the history of Ethiopian Airlines,” said Captain Desta Zeru, Senior Vice President of Flight Operations for Ethiopian Airlines. “Our pilots are now qualified as the first African pilots to fly the 787.
"We are proud to support Ethiopian Airlines as they grow their business with the 787 Dreamliner," said Roei Ganzarski, chief customer officer, Boeing Flight Services. "World class training for a world class airplane is part of the Boeing Edge we work hard to provide to our customers."
Read More Here [Ethiopian Airlines]

The launch destination for Ethiopian's Dreamliner will be Johannesburg, following which it will be deployed on the Addis Ababa - Harare, Addis Ababa - Lusaka, Addis Ababa - Dubai and Addis Ababa - Guangzhou routes.