DUBAI: Ethiopian Airlines landed its flagship Dreamliner aircraft in the United Arab Emirates, the company reported on Saturday. It was the first such trip in what is to be a daily route between Addis Ababa and the Dubai International Aiport. It is also the first African airline to fly a Dreamliner, a plane that is massive and uses 20 percent less fuel than its competitors. “The fact that we are the first airline outside Japan to receive this ultra-modern aircraft is an affirmation of our continuing pioneering role in African aviation. It is also a testimony of our commitment to give our passengers the best possible travel experience, with the best industry products and services,” said Tewolde Gebremariam, chief executive officer of Ethiopian Airlines, in a statement from the company. The airline currently runs some 70 international routes, including the direct flight between Ethiopia and the UAE. “Our idea is to be able to offer our passengers the ultimate travel experience and there is no better place than Dubai to introduce our new Dreamliner dubbed as ‘AFRICA FIRST',” said Haileab Netsereab, regional director for Ethiopian Airlines in the Middle East.
