The Boeing 787 Dreamliner will make its debut on African soil on Sunday at the Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport, according to a press statement Ethiopian sent to ENA on Friday.

The Dreamliner will be in Addis Abba for a few days as Ethiopian’s officials, employees, and invited guests have a closer look at the innovations and advanced technologies of the 787, the statement said.

The statement noted that the date also marks the eve of Ethiopian membership entry into the Star Alliance.

“Ethiopian Airlines is very pleased to be the first African airline to receive the environmental leader, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Addis Ababa on its first tour to Africa,” the statement quoted the CEO of Ethiopian, Tewolde Gebremariam as saying.

“We are also proud to be the first African airline to operate the 787, providing our passengers with better flight experience, continuing our tradition in leading improved performance standards and asserting our leadership on the continent”, he said.

Vice President Flight Operations, Captain Desta Zeru, will fly the new aircraft from Haikou, China to Addis Ababa on Sunday, becoming the first African captain to fly the 787, according to the statement.

"The 787 Dreamliner is a game-changing airplane and we are delighted to be able to bring this innovative product to our customers who will soon be receiving their own 787s," the statement quoted Vice President of Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Ray Conner as having said.

"This airplane is now changing the way the world flies, and we want to share that excitement with as many people as we can ", the president said.

Ethiopian has an order for 10 Dreamliners and is the first African airline to receive the aircraft, the statement said.

Ethiopian plans to use the 787 to expand its existing destinations as well as its presence in more markets worldwide, including new destinations in the Far East, according to the statement.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency