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Ethiopian Airlines, KQ battle for China with bigger plane

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Newly acquired Kenya Airways Boeing 777-300ER arriving at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on October 25, 2013. Photo/DIANA NGILA

The battle for the Africa China route is set to intensify between Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways as both airlines peg growth on the acquisition of the Boeing 777-300ER.

On Tuesday Ethiopian Airlines received its first B777-300ER three weeks after KQ received it. Both airlines betting on the extended range (ER) Boeing 777 to help growth their long-haul routes, especially to China, as well as help cut fuel costs due to the efficiency of the new aircraft.

KQ’s aircraft entered service this week with a direct flight to Guangzhou, China. The airline has invested millions of shillings to create awareness around its newest investment as it seeks to fill the plane with passengers.

READ: Kenya Airways to receive a Boeing 777-300ER

Both airlines have been aggressively positioning themselves to move passengers between Africa and the East, through their hubs of Addis Ababa and Nairobi.

The aircraft, B777-300ER, is the largest aircraft on both airlines fleet with a capacity of 400 passengers and 20 metric tonnes of cargo. It is seen as more fuel efficient and ideal to help airlines strengthen their long-haul routes.

READ: Kenya Airways finally seeks approval to fly Dreamliners

Other than China, Ethiopian Airlines is also counting on its new investment to help strengthen its operations to the US market, where it offers direct flights.

“The aircraft will be deployed on our long haul non-stop routes to the US and China and will give us exceptional range capability and fuel efficiency,” said a statement by Ethiopian Airlines.

Both airlines have leased the large aircrafts from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS). KQ expects to have four of the aircrafts with another expected to be delivered next year, while Ethiopian has an order for three others.

The B777-300 has proved to be a popular model with many airlines with its higher capacity and lower operating costs. Airlines such as Emirates, Qatar, British Airways, Air France, Etihad and American Airlines among others operate the wide body aircraft which entered service in 2004.

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The new Ethiopian aircraft was delivered just as the airline signed a service agreement with GE Aviation that will see the American company maintain its Boeing 777 engines.

The move is expected to help the airline save on its maintenance costs and create better efficiency of the engines, which power Ethiopians 16 aircrafts in the B777 family, including six freighters.

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