Ten years already since the 787 Dreamliner made Ethiopian Airlines proud
Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines celebrated the anniversary of the delivery of the first 787 Dreamliner to the pan-African carrier on Tuesday, October 18, 2022.
Over the past decade, Ethiopian Airlines has used the 787's unique capabilities to sustainably expand its long-haul network around the world, making its Addis Ababa hub one of the main gateways for international travel in Africa. As the first airline on the continent to take delivery of the 787, it now operates a combined fleet of twenty-seven 787-8s and 787-9s that play a vital role in its long-haul fleet. "We are pleased to mark a decade since we inaugurated the first 787 Dreamliner in Africa, building on our role as a pioneer in African aviation," said Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines.
"The 787 has been instrumental in expanding our long- and medium-haul flights and redefining on-board comfort for our passengers with its advanced technology and outstanding cabin features.
As part of the celebrations, Boeing has also unveiled an exhibition in the Addis Ababa Science Museum. The museum will feature permanent exhibits from Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines, including a 787 Dreamliner simulator experience. As a reminder, since the delivery of the first 787 in 2011, more than 80 airlines worldwide have used the Dreamliner to open more than 335 new direct routes around the world.
The 787 family has served more than 1,900 routes, carrying nearly 700 million passengers on over 3.3 million flights. "The incredible versatility of the 787 Dreamliner has been instrumental in helping Ethiopian Airlines become Africa's largest airline," said Omar Arekat, vice president of sales and marketing, Middle East and Africa, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "For more than 75 years, we have partnered with Ethiopian to help them build a great airline using the world's most modern, efficient, comfortable and sustainable products, including the 787. "According to the manufacturer, the 787 family offers unmatched fuel efficiency to operators like Ethiopian Airlines, reducing fuel consumption and emissions by 25 percent compared to the aeroplanes it replaced. In total, the 787 has saved £125 billion in carbon emissions since it entered service in 2011, Boeing claims.
