Kenya Airways acquires Boeing 787 Dreamliner

machine announcing the arrival of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner – the aviation world’s latest offering.
The 200-plus dignitaries, who included Kenyan government officials, stakeholders in the travel and aviation industry and journalists from 65 countries lined up to witness Kenya Airways (KQ) make history as one of only two African airlines to have made concrete orders of the aircraft machine and the only two to have been on the Dreamliner’s world tour’s itinerary.
They could only gape in awe as the plane snaked through the runway towards the hangar. The ululation, whistling and wild cheers that welcomed the plane spoke volumes of the joy that pervaded through the dignitaries. The test flight was on its second leg in Africa, coming from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where it first tasted the African airspace.
The sense of achievement and pride to some extent, could be felt among the Kenyan officials and KQ staff.
It is now only a matter of time before Kenya Airways receives the first of the nine Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes that it has ordered.
The first delivery will be made in the first quarter of 2014 at the latest. Boeing is presently producing the 787 Dreamliner at the rate of two-and-a-half per month.
Zimbabwe, which has increasingly become an important market for KQ, will immensely benefit from the new acquisitions and the expansion programmes that the airline has taken particularly in terms of quality of service and frequency of lights.
Presently KQ flies 11 times per week between Harare and Nairobi, with most Zimbabweans going to and from Europe and Asia preferring to go via Nairobi.
It may soon be forced to increase the frequency given the growing demand, particularly at a time Air Zimbabwe is struggling to take off.
Globally KQ flies to more than 45 destinations worldwide and the routes will soon be expanded, with the coming in of the 787 Dreamliner.
Kenya has also announced plans to increase its Boeing 737 and 777 fleets. Boeing decision to produce more environmentally friendly fuels from oil fossil products is also in line with KQ’s green ambition. The
Boeing 787 Dreamliner boasts 20 percent less fuel consumption.
The first new plane in the 21st century is on a six-month tour of the world. This month alone it is scheduled to make six stops in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Vice president of Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes Mr Ray Conner said the latest plane would change the way the world flies.
“The 787 Dreamliner is a game changing airplane and we are delighted to be able to bring this new innovative product to our customers who will soon be receiving their own 787s,” he said.
Speaking at a reception to welcome the plane, Kenya Airways managing director Mr Titus Naikuni was ecstatic.
“We are moving forward as an airline. We now need the new terminal to come on stream to meet the new demands for space,” he said.
The Dreamliner will also enable KQ replace the ageing 767 aircraft while helping the “pride of Africa” open new long haul routes to the USA and other countries.
Kenya Minister of Trade Ambassador Chirao Ari Makwele said the new aircraft had revolutionarised the aviation industry and KQ’s acquisition would dove-tail into that country Vision 2030.
Under the blueprint for national development covering the period 2008 to 2030, Kenya intends to become one of the world’s top 10 long-haul destinations.
“As the national airline, KQ plays a facilitative role in the economy and will boost the Vision 2030 economic blueprint.
“Tourism is one of the major earners and pillars of the economy hence this development will boost the economy significantly,” he said.
Kenya Airways had cut a niche in the aviation industry.
“We are moving forward in meeting the challenges of the future. Aircraft are not bought off the shelf. For us getting the airline in two years’ time is record time.”
Boeing vice president Van Galliard described the 787 Dreamliner as a quantum leap in aviation technology.