 |
| ET-ASG Boeing 787-8 Ethiopian Airlines |
A little piece of Irish Aviation history was made yesterday (Friday 20th March) as Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner ET-ASG made a scheduled first visit to Dublin Airport. In October 2014 the largest airline in Africa announced that it would commence three times weekly flights direct from Dublin to Addis Ababa and Dublin direct to Los Angeles on the Dreamliner 787.
ET-ASG Boeing 787-8 is the latest addition to Ethiopian’s growing fleet of 787s with eleven in service and a further two on order, the aircraft was delivered on 1st February and is leased from Shanon based AerCap.
Dreamliner B787 Flight Number touched down at Dublin Airport on a short visit ahead of its inaugural flight to Los Angeles on June 20th next. Ethiopian Airlines Chief Executive Tewolde Gebremariam travelled on the aircraft from London Heathrow with crew and a number of African journalists and were welcomed by Kevin Toland, Chief Executive, of the Dublin Airport Authority.
This is the first time a Dreamliner 787 has made a scheduled stop in Dublin Airport.
The ultra-modern Boeing 787 Dreamliner offers unparalleled on-board comfort to passengers especially for long haul routes with its unique features such as greatly reduced noise, higher cabin air humidity, biggest windows in the sky and spacious cabin interior.
These new flights commencing on 20th June will be the only direct services connecting Africa with Ireland and the West Coast of the United States, following Ireland’s move to grant Ethiopian fifth freedom rights, enabling the airline to sell tickets on all sectors of the new Addis Ababa to LA route.
Passengers from Ireland and Los Angeles will be able to enjoy seamless and convenient connectivity options thanks to Ethiopian’s extensive network in Africa, spanning 49 destinations. Similarly, as the flights will be the only direct service between Dublin and Los Angeles, the Irish and U.S. travelling public between the two cities will greatly benefit from the opening of the route.
Welcoming the arrival of Ethiopian’s Dreamliner to Dublin, daa Chief Executive Kevin Toland said “Ethiopian’s Dublin route will be the only direct service connecting Africa with Ireland and the west coast of the US. The new service will reconnect Dublin with Los Angeles and bring unrivalled connectivity in Africa, opening up opportunities from its Addis Ababa hub to almost 50 African destinations.
“We are looking forward to welcoming the inaugural direct flight from Addis Ababa on June 20,” he added.
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe welcomed The Ethiopian Airlines Dreamliner B787 into Dublin Airport for the first time: ‘This is a very exciting day for Dublin airport and for Irish tourism.
“I very much look forward to the start of Ethiopian Airlines’ new Addis Ababa-Los Angeles service via Dublin Airport in June, using the very impressive Dreamliner. The new routes will strengthen Ireland’s connectivity to the west coast of the United States and will provide the first direct link to Ethiopia and other points in Africa and beyond from the Ethiopian Airlines Addis Ababa hub, offering additional choice and convenience for passengers.”
Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group said “We are proud to be the first airline to link Africa and Ireland and bring the ultra-modern 787 aircraft to Dublin airport. I wish to thank the Government of Ireland and the airport authority for their tremendous support, which has enabled the start of our flight in June. Our flights connecting Addis Ababa, Dublin and Los Angeles will play a critical role in the expansion of trade, tourism and investment between the fast growing continent of Africa and Ireland”.
With the addition of Dublin, the airline’s 11th European city and Los Angeles, its fourth point in the Americas, Ethiopian’s international network will cover 85 destinations across 5 continents.
Irish Aviation Research Institute © 21st March 2015 All Rights Reserved.
