Post date: Aug 18, 2012 4:29:42 PM
Ethiopia-Dreamliner -- Ethiopia receives first state of art Boeing 787 Dreamliner
CCTV BEIJING - Ethiopian Airlines received its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner on Friday in the capital city Addis Ababa, thus making Ethiopia one of the very few countries owning this technologically very advanced aircraft in the world.
The state of the art plane touched down at Bole International Airport in a rain to an excited welcoming party.
It will offer passengers an all-round comfortable flying experience aimed at reducing fatigue, noise, as well as better humidity on board.
At a cost of over one billion U.S. dollars, the company will receive 10 of them.
This is not a cheap investment for one of the world's poorest countries. But for Ethiopia, it is more than just figures, it's a symbol of national pride.
"Ethiopian Airlines is the first airlines in the world next to Japan to take delivery of the most technologically advanced aircraft. Thus the arrival of the Dreamliner marks a major mile stone not just for our carrier, but for African aviation as a whole," said Diriba Kuma, State Minister of Telecommunications and Transportation.
The visitors, all very excited, were quite proud of the delivery, believing that the receiving of the plane will no doubt promote the development of Ethiopia's aviation industry.
"I think it is a major achievement for our airlines that it brings to our country such a modern plane in my opinion. I think it helps the airlines to attract more customers and compete well," said local resident Alemu Bagale.
"I feel very proud as an Ethiopian for my country becomes the first in Africa to get this airplane. I believe this will contribute enormously to the the growth of air transport industry," said another local resident Tesfamikael Bayleyegn.
Ethiopian Airlines plans to launch the route from Addis Ababa to the Washington Dulles International Airport by the end of this year.
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