Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopia’s flag carrier, is to acquire four Boeing 787 Dreamliner Jetliners, two Boeing 777 freighters, four 
Boeing 737-800 and Five Bombardier Q400 aircraft by the end of this year according to Tewolde Gebremariam, Chief Executive Officer of the airline.
Ethiopian had put in an order for ten Dreamliner aircraft at a total cost of 1.5 billion US dollars in 2005 with delivery expected in 200-2010. After several delays Boeing has now confirmed that the first two Dreamliner aircraft will be delivered in July or August of this year although the exact date has not been decided said Tewolde.
The airline is managing to make a profit in spite of increasing fuel price that is affecting the international airline industry noted Tewolde. Ethiopian is investing in these new aircraft because it has been able to retain its strong financial status which is important to financiers facilitating the funds for purchase he claimed.In related news Ethiopian Airlines has purchased a Bombardier Q400 simulator worth 15 million US dollars from the Canadian manufacturer.
The purchase is part of a range of agreements reached between Ethiopian and Bombardier which include Ethiopian Airlines becoming a certified Bombardier maintenance repair and overhaul center and a distributor for Bombardier parts in Africa.
The airline also expects to train pilots on the Bombardier aircraft according to Tewolde.
Tewolde rejected claims that the airline is requiring its employees to contribute parts of their salary and to work unpaid over time hours to support the airline’s cost reducing strategy claiming any such efforts where taken on the initiative of the staff.
Source: The Reporter
