The Big & Small at Harare International Airport

Ethiopian Airlines 787 taxiing out while Malawian Airlines dash8 Q400 taxies in at Harare International Airport. Special thanks to Airway Magazine for the pic.

VIDEO: Kenya Airways First Boeing 787 Dreamliner Arrives in Nairobi 05APR14

VIDEO: Kenya Airways First Boeing 787 Dreamliner Maiden Flight From Seattle

Kenya Airways takes delivery of first of nine B787-8s

Kenya Airways has officially taken delivery of its first of nine B787-8s - 5Y-KZA (msn 35510) - from Boeing (BOE, Chicago O'Hare) at a ceremony held in the United States on April 1. The Dreamliner is expected in Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta on April 4. Its first scheduled services are expected to include Mombasa as well as Paris CDG and Johannesburg O.R. Tambo. In the long-term, the airline will also use the type to on flights to Beijing Capital.

The aircraft marks the start of the second phase of a USD1.9billion aircraft purchase transaction arranged by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) which also involves the acquisition of one B777-300(ER).

 

Source: ch-aviation

The first 787-8 for Kenya Airways in their full livery arriving at Everett

Source: airliners.net

Kenya Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner at Everett, USA

Kenya Airways Countdown to New Fleet Begins

• KQ to receive six Dreamliner planes and one Boeing 777 in 2014
• Receipt of new aircraft demonstrates commitment to Project Mawingu

Kenya Airways fleet and route expansion plan- Project Mawingu, enters a new phase next month when the airline takes delivery of the first of its six Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes expected this year. The first 787 Dreamliner arrives on April 4th followed by its second B777-300ER in May. This will be followed by a receipt of five other of the State-of-the-Art Dreamliner planes within the course of the year, in a deliberate effort to increase the airlines capacity for long haul routes.

 

Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Dr. Titus Naikuni, noted that the new fleet will enable the airline meet its customer expectations for more comfort and access to luxury facilities, while increasing the number of direct flights and frequencies to new and existing major destinations. “We are pleased to be using Dreamliner for our expansion plans, which will be both more environmentally friendly and more economic as we embrace the benefits of its design. The delivery of these exciting aircraft opens a new chapter and a very exciting time for the airline,” said Dr. Naikuni. He added, “Long haul routes to Paris, Amsterdam and Beijing are among the destinations earmarked for direct flights, as we continue exploring new markets that will be instrumental in helping us achieve our objective, to contribute towards the sustainable development of Africa”.

 

The delivery of the new set of aircrafts demonstrates commitment by the airline to its 10 year growth strategy "Project Mawingu", a huge investment in new aircraft, smarter cabins, superb lounges and new technologies to bring a more modern, comfortable and connected experience in the air and on the ground to its customers. “Introduction of direct flights to destinations like Paris and Amsterdam will boost key sectors of Kenya’s economy such as tourism and horticulture”, noted Dr. Naikuni. Upon arrival, Boeing 787 Dreamliner and B777-300ER will be subjected to the elaborate ‘entry into service’ programme, which will see pilots and cabin crew training taking place at Jomo Kenyatta. In addition to cutting-edge aesthetics, the Dreamliner also boasts of twenty per cent fuel efficiency compared to other long-distance aircrafts.

 

Source: CAPA