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Frontiers October 2016 Issue

OCTOBER 2016 | 33 787,” Abebe said. “It’s flying to most African destinations. It’s unique. It gives us great flexibility. The 787 is the main thing for Ethiopian Airlines now.” To meet this demand, Ethiopian Airlines operates its 787s 12 to 13 hours per day. According to airline personnel, passengers express appreciation for the airplane’s comforts—cabin pressure seems virtually nonexistent compared with other airplanes, as do other operating sensations. “It is so smooth, sometimes you may not feel it when it’s taking off,” Yohannes said. In its fleet of 80-plus airplanes, Ethiopian Airlines also operates the 737, 757, 767 and 777, plus 757 and 777 freighters. It has orders for 30 737 MAX 8 airplanes. According to airline personnel, this continued growth has brought expansion plans for the airport in Addis Ababa, which sits 7,000 feet (2,100 meters) above sea level at the center of Ethiopia and is a hub for Africa. Aviation, too, has become a desired profession across Ethiopia, offering some of the country’s highest paying jobs, added Yohannes, who, like his teammates, takes great pride in his work. This passion and commitment has helped solidify Ethiopian Airlines as the African leader, said Van Rex Gallard, Boeing vice president of sales for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. “It’s an airline where everyone is aligned and knows that they’re working for personal growth, the success of the airline and the growth of the country,” Gallard said. “You get immersed in the culture—you want to do the best you can to help make this be a great success.” Ethiopian Airlines employees also find time to team with Boeing on humanitarian efforts that support the African country, Gallard said. Volunteers at both companies are collecting sporting equipment to promote the formation of youth baseball teams in Ethiopia. Previously, Boeing employees donated $100,000 to Seattle Alliance Outreach, which treats kidney dialysis patients and trains doctors in Ethiopia. The money was used to stock a new dialysis clinic in Addis Ababa and the supplies were delivered on a new Ethiopian Airlines 777 Freighter. More than 200 Boeing field service representatives are based in Addis Ababa, facilitating the Ethiopian Airlines effort, according to Tom Addy, Boeing field services team leader. They help with documentation, training and troubleshooting. They work at the airport, near the Ethiopian engineering offices. They share best practices with the airline mechanics, particularly those who service the 787, which has different needs from other airplanes. Addy arrived in Africa last year following company maintenance assignments in China, France, Mexico, Spain and the U.S. He says he’s never worked with an airline before that’s been on such an upward trend as Ethiopian. “It won’t lessen, it will increase,” Addy said of future Ethiopian Airlines operations. “The fleet is mostly new. There’s going to be nothing but growth—and I believe mostly through Boeing.” There are cultural obstacles for others trying to enter the marketplace. Airbus recently delivered its first airplane of any kind to Ethiopian Airlines, an A350, but the new twin-aisle jet received attention the European airplane-maker likely didn’t anticipate. There was ready confusion over the brand name. In Ethiopia, people refer to any jetliner overhead, even a competitor, as “a Boeing,” Yohannes, the airline manager, said. “One of my friends told me that he ‘saw a Boeing model called an Airbus land today.’ I had to explain the whole thing to him.” • DANIEL.W.RALEY@BOEING.COM


Frontiers October 2016 Issue
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