Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - Ethiopian 787 have they confirmed a delivery date?

Hi i am on the CAN-ADD flight in OCT is the 787 really going to flying this route? Will ET really have the planes?
Has anyone got any more information?
http://nyc787.blogspot.com/
Lastly, it is quite possible that ZA262 (LN 49, ET-AOQ) for Ethiopian and ZA461 (LN 58, A7-BCB) for Qatar Airways could be ready for delivery by the end of this month. The former has conduct two Boeing test flights (including the ferry flight to Ft worth) and is currently being painted in Texas. I would expect this airplane back in Everett in about 7 to 8 days. It could could still conceivably conduct customer flights after its return to Everett before the end of the month. ZA461 is more of a question mark as Boeing needs to complete some interior assembly tasks (may be related to the IFE System) prior to further Boeing and customer test flights. Again it is entirely possible that his airplane could deliver by the end of this month

According to this billboard at Addis Ababa airport last Monday, they have! :D

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/483284_10151017851443886_1112572940_n.jpg

787 is listed in their schedule for the ADD-JNB route for my flight in September (award travel in C, nonetheless).

Whether it operates as scheduled is another story. They certainly are not making a big party out of it on their website - which you'd think they might trying to surpass SA as the leading airline on the continent.

Oh no they also have it listed for my flight CAN-ADD in Oct. they only have 1 plane it cannot be on both routes.

http://www.flyethiopian.com/en/news/pressreleases.aspx?hl= 324

Ethiopian, the fastest growing airline in Africa, is pleased to announce that its Boeing 787 Dreamliner is painted in Ethiopian livery and is at the final stages of preparation for delivery.


After being painted with the colors of green, yellow and red, today the Ethiopian Dreamliner will fly back to Seattle from San Antonio, Texas. Ethiopian is proud to be the first in Africa to fly this much awaited, state-of-the-art aircraft in mid August 2012.

And here it comes, finally:

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) said it will take delivery of the first of 10 Boeing 787s it has on order Aug. 14 (ATW Daily News, May 2, 2006).

It plans to receive the aircraft in Seattle and then fly it to Washington DC to display for dignitaries. ET’s Dreamliner is slated to arrive in Addis Ababa Aug. 16.

The airline has not announced 787 destinations yet; there have been indications it is interested in using the aircraft to operate flights from Addis Ababa to China and South America.

“The fact that we are the first airline outside Japan to receive this ultra modern aircraft is an affirmation of our continuing pioneering role in African aviation,” ET CEO Tewolde Gebremariam said in a statement.
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Looks like an ET is putting the 787 on tour....18 different countries over a 3-week span:

http://airlineroute.net/2012/08/08/et-787-aug12/

it better be on CAN for OCT or i am going to be pissed.

ET will start 787 service to Washington on daily basis starting 20SEP12. Guangzhou is 77L.

Looks like an ET is putting the 787 on tour....18 different countries over a 3-week span:

http://airlineroute.net/2012/08/08/et-787-aug12/Dammit! 3 767 flights in Aug and I miss on all 3.

ET will start 787 service to Washington on daily basis starting 20SEP12. Guangzhou is 77L.

I want my money back....... lol I have my flights from CAN in Sept and i was hoping to be on the 787.

http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/ethiopian-airlines-takes-the-lead-in-africa-with-its-first-boeing-787-2012-08-15

Its official ET has taken its new 787.
the 787 has 24 "cloud 9" business class seats.
http://www.ethiopianairlines.com/en/news/default.aspx

And it's en route IAD: http://flightaware.com/live/flight/ETH2501

ET always new they were going to put this plane on IAD, that's why USA was exempt from the 2-1 SEZ deal...:mad:

I was lucky to attend ceremony of first Ethiopian B787 arrival to IAD.
It arrived last Wednesday at 2pm from PAE and departed yesterday at 1:30pm for its first revenue flight to ADD.
Business class is decent. It reminds me of old Lufthansa A340 business class seats + bigger PTVs. Economy class seats are comfortable. Seat pitch was adequate for person like myself (6'4"), but the seats are narrow.
I absolutely love the shadeless windows. I was playing with them for good 5 minutes :)
Here are my shots of the interior and exterior.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26545158@N02/sets/72157631089406008/

I was also at the event on Wednesday, though I wasn't able to get a look onboard. I felt the injera was adequate compensation :)

Yep, first revenue flight was an IAD-ADD. From what I've heard it will make a flight to all the stations ET is flying on (and can handle the 787 of course) to celebrate the arrival of the plane. It's a good thing this 787 is here, so the older planes can retire, because lately there's been a lot of technical delays on the older planes. This month the aircraft will perform flights to Dubai, Mumbai, Rome, London and Frankfurt.
I can't wait for it to arrive in Brussels...

well i am still booked on the CAN flight not looking very good for the 787 :(

well i am still booked on the CAN flight not looking very good for the 787 :(

ET operates 1-time 787 service to CAN on 26SEP12