Ethiopian 787 Flies into Dublin ahead of new direct flights from Dublin to Addis Ababa and Los Angeles
Press Release –
The first service linking three continents
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – A little piece of history was made today as Ethiopian Airlines Dreamliner B787 made a scheduled first visit to Dublin Airport. Earlier this year the largest airline in Africa announced that it would commence three times weekly flights direct from Dublin to Addis Ababa and Dublin direct to Los Angeles on the Dreamliner 787.
Dreamliner B787 Flight Number touched down at Dublin Airport on a short visit ahead of its inaugural flight to Los Angeles on June 20th next. Ethiopian Airlines Chief Executive Tewolde Gebremariam travelled on the aircraft from London Heathrow with crew and a number of African journalists and were welcomed by Kevin Toland, Chief Executive, of the Dublin Airport Authority.
This is the first time a Dreamliner 787 has made a scheduled stop in Dublin Airport. The ultra-modern Boeing 787 Dreamliner offers unparalleled on-board comfort to passengers especially for long haul routes with its unique features such as greatly reduced noise, higher cabin air humidity, biggest windows in the sky and spacious cabin interior.
These new flights commencing in June will be the only direct services connecting Africa with Ireland and the West Coast of the United States, following Ireland’s move to grant Ethiopian fifth freedom rights, enabling the airline to sell tickets on all sectors of the new Addis Ababa to LA route.
Passengers from Ireland and Los Angeles will be able to enjoy seamless and convenient connectivity options thanks to Ethiopian’s extensive network in Africa, spanning 49 destinations. Similarly, as the flights will be the only direct service between Dublin and Los Angeles, the Irish and U.S. travelling public between the two cities will greatly benefit from the opening of the route.
Ireland’s Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe welcomed The Ethiopian Airlines Dreamliner B787 into Dublin Airport for the first time: ‘This is a very exciting day for Dublin airport and for Irish tourism.
“I very much look forward to the start of Ethiopian Airlines’ new Addis Ababa-Los Angeles service via Dublin Airport in June, using the very impressive Dreamliner. The new routes will strengthen Ireland’s connectivity to the west coast of the United States and will provide the first direct link to Ethiopia and other points in Africa and beyond from the Ethiopian Airlines Addis Ababa hub, offering additional choice and convenience for passengers.”
daa Chief Executive Kevin Toland said he was delighted to welcome Ethiopian’s Dreamliner to Dublin in advance of the official launch of the new Addis Ababa-Dublin-Los Angeles service in June.
“Ethiopian’s Dublin route will be the only direct service connecting Africa with Ireland and the west coast of the US. The new service will reconnect Dublin with Los Angeles and bring unrivalled connectivity in Africa, opening up opportunities from its Addis Ababa hub to almost 50 African destinations.
“The Dreamliner is a magnificent aircraft and the essence of comfort for any long haul flight. We are very much looking forward to welcoming the inaugural direct flight from Addis Ababa on June 20,” he added.
Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group: “We are proud to be the first airline to link Africa and Ireland and bring the ultra-modern 787 aircraft to Dublin airport. I wish to thank the Government of Ireland and the airport authority for their tremendous support, which has enabled the start of our flight in June. Our flights connecting Addis Ababa, Dublin and Los Angeles will play a critical role in the expansion of trade, tourism and investment between the fast growing continent of Africa and Ireland”.
Ethiopian Airlines also announced special promotional launch fares today for the new routes, valid for travel from June 20th to November 31st 2015. You can fly direct to Addis or direct to Los Angeles from just €499.00 return on the Dreamliner. This offer can be booked from March 20th to 30th April 2015.
With the addition of Dublin, the airline’s 11th European city and Los Angeles, its fourthpoint in the Americas, Ethiopian’s international network will cover 85 destinations across 5 continents.
Ethiopian is a Pan-African global carrier voted by passengers as the Best in Africa for two years in a row by Passenger Choice Awards, the most comprehensive survey in the industry.
The airline operates the youngest fleet in the continent with an average of less than seven years and currently serves 83 international destinations across five continents with over 200 daily departures.
About Ethiopian
Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing and most profitable airline in Africa. In 2014, IATA ranked Ethiopian as the largest airline in Africa in revenue and profit. In its operations in the past close to seven decades, Ethiopian has been a pioneer of African aviation as an aircraft technology leader providing the first jet service in the continent in 1962, and availing the first African B767 in 1984, the first African B777-200LR in 2010 and the first African and second only to Japan B787 Dreamliner in 2012.
Ethiopian commands the lion share of the pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 83 international destinations across five continents. Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as the Boeing 787, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-200LR Freighter and Bombardier Q-400 with double cabin. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft.
Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that will see it become the leading airline group in Africa with seven strategic business units: Ethiopian International Passenger Service; Ethiopian Regional Service; Ethiopian Cargo; Ethiopian MRO; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian In-flight Catering Service and Ethiopian Ground Service. Ethiopian is a multi-award winning, including SKYTRAX and Passenger Choice Awards in 2013 and has been registering an average growth of 25% per annum in the past seven years.
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Manager PR & Publications
Ethiopian Airlines
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