First A350-1000 in Africa
Ethiopian Airlines took delivery of the first Airbus A350-1000 in Africa today. The airline’s CEO, Mesfit Tasew, stated “We are thrilled to welcome the Airbus A350-1000 to our fleet, solidifying our position as leaders in aviation technology. The aircraft embodies cutting-edge advancements, offering superior passenger comfort, enhanced fuel efficiency, and reduced environmental impacts. Together, we are pioneering a sustainable future for aviation in Africa.”
The aircraft is also the first to feature Thales’ AVANT Up inflight entertainment system and the Airbus HBC+ connectivity system. The business class section has direct aisle access for all business class seas, luxurious amenities, spacious seating, large screens, and a unique landscape camera.
With a total capacity of 395 seats, the A350-1000 will increase Ethiopian Airlines’ passenger capacity and provide enhanced passenger experience in the largest business class cabin in the airline’s long-haul fleet. Ethiopian Airlines will also introduce Airbus’ new HBCplus satcom connectivity solution, offering seamless, high-speed gate-to-gate connectivity. Ethiopian is scheduled to take an additional three A350-1000 aircraft in the coming months, further modernizing its fleet, which currently includes the A350-900, Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 in its long-haul fleet. Ethiopian Airlines currently operates a fleet of 21 A350 Family aircraft.
A total of 14 additional A350 aircraft are set to join the airline’s fleet in the coming years, including 11 A350-900 and three additional A350-1000. The A350-1000 will provide operational commonality with the A350-900 fleet, ensuring seamless integration with shared pilots and mechanics simplifying training and maintenance processes.
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