History was made in Lagos on Saturday as the first African A350 XWB owned and operated by Ethiopian Airline, touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Folarin Coker, Lagos State commissioner for Tourism, said with the current global crisis of lower oil prices, lower oil production in the country, high exchange rate and the recent departure of two airlines from our country, the arrival of Ethiopian Airlines Africa’s newest A-350 aircraft to Nigeria has a lot of significance.
According to Coker, “the significance is not just that is the first, the significance is that while the country is learning to take big steps, some airlines may choose to leave but Ethiopian Airlines has chosen to bring the best that is available here in the current global economic planet.”
Coker said he was not surprised that it is Lagos, because with the wealth and the population of Lagos, it is a viable market and anybody who comes to do business in Lagos understands business and understands that this economy can give returns to global dollar that is comparable anywhere else in the world.
“What is lacking is for you to come here and experience it and with this new aircraft, I am sure that many more people from that region and even further East will come to Lagos”, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Solomon Bengashaw, general manager, Ethiopian Airlines in Nigeria, said ‘the year 2016 has a special meaning for Ethiopian airlines for major milestones achievement’.
Bengashaw said the excitement is more as the airline is still celebrating 70th year anniversary as it grows younger and stronger in the industry.
“As a pan-African airline, we are committed to introduce into the continent the latest and most advanced aviation technologies and systems of the century.
Nigeria is favoured to receive the newest Aircraft in the world Airbus A350. Lagos and Dubai are the first stations to receive Ethiopian Airlines Brand new Baby. Recalling that four years ago, I received Ethiopian Airlines Boeing B787 Dreamliner to Africa and to Lagos,” Bengashaw added.
He noted that this is also a testimony of the airline’s commitment to give its passengers the very best travel experience, with the latest industry products and services.
“On behalf of all my colleagues at the Ethiopian family, I am delighted to see Ethiopian to continue making Africa First in Aviation Technology,” Bengashaw said.
According to him, Ethiopian Airline has done its part by bringing the best to the Nigerian travel industry to ensure that travel business and tourism will flourish and also be catered by the most advanced and safety reliable equipments.
Leta Chala Bongasie, pilot of the aircraft said the aircraft is fully automated and has protection of different categories with unusual kind of flight maneuvers.
Speaking on the features of the A350 XWB, Bengashaw noted that the aircraft is fitted with the latest high-definition touchscreen personal monitors and a higher selection of movies, television series and audio channels. He assured that In-flight Wi-Fi connection will be made available on the aircraft in the future.
He said passengers with smart devices can connect to the world while others can use the smart individual touch screens on their seats when the internet service goes operational as the A350 XWB’s innovative technology also improves performance in operation.
“Its revolutionary airframe and simplified systems have optimized fuel burn, maintenance costs and reliability, and its engines have the lowest carbon dioxide CO2 emissions of any in the wide body category.
Ethiopian has ordered 14 Airbus A350 XWB aircraft and will continue receiving the remaining 13 soon, constantly raising the number of Airbus aircraft in the fleet ensuring the extra comfort”, he added.
