ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES TAKES DELIVERY OF THIRD AIRBUS A350 AS CONAKRY FLIGHTS COMMENCE
(Posted 03rd February 2017)
Ethiopian Airlines has yesterday marked the launch of its new services to Conakry, the capital of The Republic of Guinea, at a reception ceremony held at Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport.
The event was been graced by Mme. Sidibe Fatouma KABA, Guinea’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Mr. Toure Mohamed, the Guinea Transport Minister, members of the Guinean diplomatic community, Mr. Mesfin Tassew, Chief Operating Officer Ethiopian Airlines, and Ethiopian Airlines senior management.
Mme. Sidibe Fatouma KABA, Guinea Ambassador to Ethiopia remarked, on the occasion: ‘Ethiopian is growing since its creation; and it is a pan-African company. We are very happy and proud that this project is realized which will strengthen trade, tourism and the bilateral ties between the two nations. The flight will also help Guinean business people to travel to major world trading cities across the Ethiopian Airlines network‘.
Mr. Mesfin Tasew, the Chief Operating Officer of the Ethiopian Aviation Group; then responded: ‘We are pleased to launch services to Conakry. This new service takes a very special place in Ethiopian network expansion endeavour, as it is the first of the seven new destinations that Ethiopian is going to launch in five months duration. Covering the largest network in Africa unrivalled by any other carrier, Ethiopian has been filling the gaps of air transportation in the continent. Moreover, as Africa’s economy grows the need for air transport has increased significantly and availability of accessible and hassle-free air connectivity is of paramount importance. To this end, Ethiopian has been working extensively in serving the continent with better and technologically advanced aviation technologies and systems‘.
Meanwhile has Ethiopian taken delivery of its third Airbus A350XWB, configured with 30 business class and 313 economy class seats. The aircraft was named after Erta Ale, a large basaltic shield volcano located in the Afar Region of north-eastern Ethiopia.
Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, on the occasion of the delivery said, ‘As part of our continuous fleet modernization program, we have now phased in a third Airbus A350 XWB 900. Both the B-787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A-350 are the most technologically advanced airplanes in the world today and we are highly delighted that we are one of the very few airlines in the world to own and operate both airplanes at their early stage in service. Ethiopian Airlines customers will have the special privilege of experiencing the superior features and services of both airplanes. These environmentally green airplanes are enabling us to expand our vast network to new and exciting destinations like Oslo in Norway, Singapore, Chengdu in China, Jakarta in Indonesia, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Antananarivo in Madagascar. On board this game changing aircraft, passengers will experience the latest high-definition touchscreen personal monitors with even more movies, television series, and audio channels. Passengers will also enjoy the wider seats and larger windows, the lowest twin engine noise level in the skies, advanced air conditioning technology, and full LED mood lighting. All of these amenities will enhance comfort and reduce jet-lag after a long flight‘.
Ethiopian Airlines was the African launch customer for the Airbus A350XWB as it was African launch customer too at the time for the Boeing B787 Dreamliner.
