Ethiopia airline becomes first in Africa to use Dreamliner
Ethiopian Airlines will become the first African carrier to use Boeing 787 Dreamliner set to be delivered next week.
The aeroplane gives the airline a competitive edge over its African peers like Kenya Airways (KQ) in attracting passengers seeking new experiences while saving on fuel costs.
KQ, Ethiopian Airlines’ main competitor in Africa together with South African Airways, expects its first Dreamliner in October next year.
State-run Ethiopian Airlines had ordered 10 Dreamliners as part of an expansion plan. KQ has ordered nine such aeroplanes and has an option of four more.
High fuel prices have seen airlines globally retire old and mid-generation aircraft for more modern and fuel-efficient ones.
Touted as an environmentally-friendly aircraft, the Dreamliner is 20 per cent more fuel-efficient than a similar-sized plane due to its carbon fibre design. KQ has been retiring its Boeing 767s opting for the Dreamliners.
However, delayed deliveries have seen the airline acquire used B767s which will be retired after the Dreamliners are available.
The Dreamliners are part of KQ’s expansion plans that will see it add its fleet from 34 aeroplanes to 68 by 2016 while increasing destinations from 56 to 115. To support the expansion and fleet modernisation, it raised Sh14.5 billion in a right issue.
The airline currently has orders of about 20 aircraft including the Dreamliners, Boeing 777-300 ER and Embraer pending. In April, KQ signed a deal with US-based General Electric to supply engines for its Dreamliners.
Ethiopian Airlines is also looking to grow its fleet in the next decade. The airline, with a fleet of over 40 aircraft, has an order of 41 aeroplanes.
including 12 Airbus, Boeing 737’s and six Boeing 777 freighters. While South African Airways has an order of 20 aircraft including 10 Airbus 320 and Airbus 321.
Aircraft manufacturers have set their sights on Africa’s growing aviation sector mainly driven by exports, resources, foreign investment and the rise of a travelling middle class.
Boeing, one of the leading manufacturer, projects Africa will require 900 new aeroplanes over the next 20 years, doubling its fleet, with at least 70 per cent of the forecast deliveries supporting growth.
Canadian firm Bombardier, the third largest aircraft manufacture after Boeing and Airbus, forecasts that 1,000 deliveries will be made to Middle East and Africa in the 20 to 149-seater market segment over the next 20 years.
Herb Wallen, Boeing’s marketing director commercial aircraft, said African carriers feature in the list of the 15 fastest-growing airlines with the continent’s top four averaging six per cent growth since 2008.
