Back in the Air!

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - Ethiopian Airlines became the first commercial carrier to put the Boeing 787 Dreamliner back in the air with an inaugural flight from Addis Abeba to Nairobi on Saturday April 27, 2013. Tewolde Gebremariam, right, CEO of Ethiopian and Randy Tinseth, vice-president of Boeing were on the flight, the first since the Dreamliner fleet was grounded in January. Boeing’s Dreamliner fleet was grounded  after incidents of fire and smoke in the batteries of two planes owned by Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways.

The global grounding came as just 50 of the planes had been delivered and was the longest of a commercial model in the jet age. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had been conducting rigorous tests on the lithium batteries that had been the root of the problem and found a method of separation that was deemed acceptable. The flight came just a day after the FAA gave its approval for them to resume. “We are excited to resume our Dreamliner service, it is the most advanced commercial aircraft and gives passengers flying with Ethiopian the chance to enjoy the ultimate on-board comfort,” said Tewolde. Boeing said on Saturday that it is ready to build seven 787 Dreamliners a month from mid-year and is still on course for 10 a month by the end of the year.

Source: addisfortune.net