Ethiopian Airlines, the flag carrier of Ethiopia founded in 1945
headquartered at Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa, member of Star
Alliance, wholly owned by the country's government, the largest African company
proudly announces the arrival of the first Airbus A-350-100 on the African
continent.
This important milestone was celebrated in a grand ceremony
attended by government officials, ambassadors, diplomats and renowned
representatives of Airbus and Thales.
The plane landed at Addis Ababa International Airport, receiving a
very warm welcome greeted with a water cannon and on board the Airbus aircraft
there was a cargo of medical furniture worth over €100,000 generously donated
to the Ethiopian Airlines Foundation by Aviation Sans Frontières in
collaboration with Airbus.
After arriving from the French city of
Toulouse, the celebrations continued with a
demonstration flight, inviting distinguished guests to experience the
capabilities of the aircraft and enjoy breathtaking views of the Great Dam of
the Ethiopian Renaissance.
This aircraft designed with love, built
for the future, super comfortable, which can accommodate from 350 to 410
passengers in a standard three – class configuration, with 40% more area for
premium – category seating.
This model boasts a revolutionary design
with innovative aerodynamics and a carbon - fiber fuselage, powered by the fuel
– efficient Rolls – Royce Trent XWB engines, ensuring a quieter, smoother
journey for long – haul travel.
This avant -garde aircraft is the
first to feature Thales' AVANT Up inflight entertainment system and HBC+
connectivity system, offering passengers luxurious comfort, spacious seating,
large screens and a unique panoramic camera. With direct aisle access for all
business class seats, comfort is the priority.
With this aircraft Ethiopian Airlines has
the largest business class in its fleet and is the first of four A350 – 1000
aircraft that the Ethiopian airline will receive from Airbus.
This aircraft will enhance the premium
service of Ethiopian Airlines to major destinations such as Frankfurt, London, Paris and Washington
D.C., among others.
Ethiopian Airlines will also introduce
Airbus' HBC satellite solution that offers high-speed, seamless gate-to-gate
connectivity.
Currently, the African airline's fleet has 21 aircraft from Airbus'
A350 family with forecasts that other 14 A350s will be added in the coming
years, eleven of which are A350 – 900 and three A350 - 1000.
The addition of the A350-1000, apart the diversification of
the fleet, will offer optimal operational compatibility with the other A350-900
aircraft produced by Airbus, also ensuring integration with pilots and
mechanics, greatly simplifying training and maintenance processes.
Link -
https://corporate.ethiopianairlines.com/Press-release-open-page/ethiopian-airlines-welcomes-africa%27s-first-a350-1000-aircraft
