ETHIOPIAN GEARS UP FOR DREAMLINER NUMBER 11
(Posted 23rd January 2015)
Ethiopian Airlines is set to take delivery of their 11th B787-8 Dreamliner before the end of January, it was learnt yesterday. The aircraft with the manufacturers’ serial number MSN 36111, according to information sourced, took to the air for the first time on the 12th of January and has been registered as ET-ASG. Powered by two GEnx-1B engines will the aircraft help boost the airline’s capacity to increase frequencies and destinations served by this aircraft type.
One of the new routes to be served by the B787-8 will be Addis Ababa – Dublin – Los Angeles from June onwards, reportedly with traffic rights on all sectors. This will allow ET to offer the Irish market another option to reach the West Coast of the United States nonstop out of Dublin. It is also the only nonstop connection from Ireland to Africa. Other new destinations in Europe, China and the Far East have recently been announced too, including Tokyo Narita which will be served via Hong Kong, making Ethiopian the number one African carrier to the South and Far East.
Founded on the 21st of December 1945 will the airline turn 70 years in late 2015, making it a pioneer in African aviation. The company reported the highest ever number of passengers carried with over 6 million last year, as well as record turnover and profits for the last financial year.
The arrival of the 11th Dreamliner will boost the fleet to 69 passenger aircraft besides a fleet of 9 freighters.
