Ethiopian Airlines acquires Africa’s First Airbus A350 XWB

Ethiopian Airlines, the largest and fastest growing airline in Africa, has achieved yet another remarkable feat, with the acquisition of Africa’s First Airbus A350 XWB.

A350 XWBs (which stands for eXtra Wide Body) is considered the world’s most modern, comfortable (more headroom, larger overhead storage space and and wider panoramic windows) and fuel-efficient aircraft.

The award winning airline received the jumbo A350 yesterday. Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Ato Tewolde GebreMariam stated on the occasion to welcome the Airbus, “we received Africa’s first A350 XWB aircraft, which is our first Airbus airplane in our fleet and another significant milestone in the history of African Aviation industry”.

#GuinnessWorldRecord #EthiopianairlinesA350XWB #BringingtheXtraeffecttoAfrica pic.twitter.com/qaSJclwtOf

— Ethiopian Airlines (@flyethiopian) June 29, 2016

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The airline says it is pleased to make all Africans proud by being the first airline in the world to fly this ultra-modern airplane in the African skies.

To crown the historic occasion, Ethiopian Airlines broke a Guinness World Record for making the largest ever human image of an airplane.

At the airline’s maintenance hangar, 350 employees of the airline created a gigantic image of the actual A350 aircraft, clearly representing an aircraft consisting of a body, two wings, two engines and fins.

In a statement, Group CEO GebreMariam said registering Ethiopian Airlines in the Guinness World Records has made this historic occasion even more special and colourful.

Read: Ethiopian Airlines operate historic all-women flight

Ethiopian Airlines, which is the largest and most profitable airline in Africa, has continued to expanding as competing African airlines are mired in heavy losses. The airline has pursued an aggressive expansion strategy, which has quickly transformed the carrier into the continent’s leading airline, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success.

The airline has made great strides towards offering world class aviation services and the airline’s efforts have been rewarded, winning the coveted Passenger Choice Award for “Best Airline in Africa” in September last year.

Social media reactions to the historic acquisition

We've taken delivery of our 1st #A350 XWB & have broken a Guinness World Record too. #GuinnessWorldRecord pic.twitter.com/ZxDRntjusd

— Ethiopian Airlines (@flyethiopian) June 29, 2016

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The #Xtra effect has landed in Africa! Congrats @flyethiopian on your 1st #A350 XWB! https://t.co/lTBlXDqwJP pic.twitter.com/zIJCmlSB3m

— Airbus (@Airbus) June 29, 2016

Congratulations @flyethiopian for the delivery of their 1st #TrentXWB powered @Airbus #A350 https://t.co/bZ2iOfqJno pic.twitter.com/q8My65Ozc5

— Rolls-Royce (@RollsRoyce) June 29, 2016

https://twitter.com/SureKamhunga/status/748246130228629504

The Airbus! Congratulations to our friends and partners at Ethiopian Airlines. This is a significant milestone…. https://t.co/jSHD9e7VZB

— selam travel (@selamtravel) June 29, 2016

https://twitter.com/IffanFikri/status/748164071199899648

https://twitter.com/IffanFikri/status/748164071199899648