
Addis Ababa June29/2016 The delivery of Africa's first Airbus A350XWB intensifies Ethiopian Airlines' leading position in Africa's aviation industry, Ethiopian Group CEO Tewolde Gebremariam said.
Ethiopian Airlines becomes the first African airliner to receive today Airbus A350XWB, and the first airliner in the world to fly the airplane with the capacity of carrying 343 passengers in the African skies.
Ethiopian has named the Airbus A350 XWB after Simien Mountains, a national park in North Gondar Zone of Amhara Regional State and one of the country’s inscribed world heritages.
During the delivery ceremony held here today, the CEO stated that the aircraft puts Ethiopian in the highest position in Africa's aviation industry and will enable it to scale up the service it renders for its increasing customers.
Tewolde indicated the delivery manifests the airliner’s commitment to extend its pioneering role in African aviation and to give its passengers ‘excellent’ travel service.
He said the aircraft also has crucial importance to support Ethiopian vision of becoming the most competitive and leading aviation group in Africa by 2025.
Deputy President of Airbus Middle East and Africa, Fouad Attar said that the aircraft plays its own part in the Ethiopian vision of taking a leadership in Africa's aviation and expressed the company’s readiness to extend the necessary technical support for the airliner.
President Mulatu Teshome affirmed the commitment of the country to hugely invest in air transport so as to enable it realize vision 2025 of the company.
The Group needs to be equipped with most advanced technologies and create efficient management-staff cooperation to retain its position in the aviation sector, Mulatu added.
The delivery of the aircraft showcases the attention given for the development of the aviation sector in the country and thereby enhancing regional economic integration through safe and modern transport system, said Minister of Transport Workneh Gebeyehu.
The minister indicated that the government has given a priority for the expansion of air transport in both the first and second five year development plan of the country, making it an essential part of the national socio-economic development strategy.
Being the headquarters for the African Union and other regional and international organizations, it is important to connect Addis Ababa with cities in the continent and abroad.
After the delivery of the aircraft, Ethiopian has broken a Guinness World Record held by Japan’s airline for the largest human image created using 350 people.
Some 350 staff members of Ethiopian has created an image of Airbus code name A350.
Head of Gunnies World Records for Middle East and Northern African region Samer Khallouf has awarded the certificate to CEO of Ethiopian Group for the largest human image at the event.