KQ’S DREAMLINER TRAINING IN FINAL STAGES BEFORE THE LAUNCH OF PARIS FLIGHTS
(Posted 17th May 2014)
Besides three ‘invitational’ flights with the new B787-8 Dreamliner has Kenya Airways over the past weeks stepped up on board training for cockpit and cabin crews, engineering and ground support staff to be ready when in three weeks time the aircraft will commence regular flights from Nairobi to Paris.
The new Dreamliner, which as a first time arrival needed special regulatory approvals from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority for the type including operations and maintenance manuals, will be joined by five more such aircraft this year and a further three next year, making it a full complement of 9. These new cost efficient aircrafts are replacing the aged B767-300 fleet and in the process offer a reduced fuel burn by over 20 percent, more seats, more cargo space and a wider range.
It is understood that up to three flights a day are conducted for crews to get acquainted to the aircraft so that they can deliver a flawless service when the first real passengers step on board, while the ground and engineering staff are kept busy with the parking procedures and routine maintenance, including the lowest level A-check which is due after reaching a certain number of hours flown.
Kenya Airways expects that with the departure of the old B767 fleet and the arrival of the new Dreamliners, that their market position will be stronger and the bottom line will look much improved for the next financial year, when all the savings are making their impact felt in the balance sheets.
According to other information will Kenya Airways also receive another 2 B777-300ER’s and 3 B787-800NG’s this financial year, further boosting the fleet and allowing for new destinations and increased flight frequencies.
One Response
I think there’s something wrong with the way Kenya Airways is handling their first Dreamliner. Two months between delivery and first commercial flight is too long. Ethiopian Airlines began using their first Dreamliner almost as soon as it arrived. I know for a fact that the first ET Dreamliner was in Nairobi and Mombasa less than 5 days after it was delivered to Addis.
I have heard the argument about training crews but why didn’t Kenya Airways handle the issue of training BEFORE the Dreamliner arrived? They had plenty of time for training considering that the Dreamliners are arriving four years late.