AerCap delivered a Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Ethiopian Airlines, marking the airline’s 100th aircraft.

As part of Ethiopian Corporate Social Responsibility commitments, the new aircraft has ferried medical equipment from the Seattle-based NGO, Direct Relief, to St Paulos Hospital in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. The shipment includes surgical stools and other medical supplies to be used for both teaching and patient care.

Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Tewolde GebreMariam said, “It is an immense honor for all of us at Ethiopian to reach the milestone of 100 aircraft. This milestone is a continuation of our historical aviation leadership role in Africa and a testimony of the successful implementation of our fast, profitable and sustainable growth plan, Vision 2025.

“Ethiopian was the first to avail jet service in the continent back in 1962, and operated the first African B767 in 1984, the first African B777-200LR in 2010, the first African B787-800 Dreamliner and B777-200 freighter in 2012 and the first African A350 in 2016 and the first African B787-9 aircraft in 2017. Ethiopian now operates one of the youngest and most modern 100 aircraft, with an average age of less than five years. Fleet modernization and expansion is one of the four critical pillars of our Vision 2025 strategic roadmap, in support of our fast expanding network, which has now reached more than 110 international destinations covering five continents.”

Marty Bentrott, senior vice president sales for Middle East, Turkey, Africa, Russia and Central Asia for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said, “The delivery of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner as Ethiopian Airlines’ 100th aircraft is a proud moment in our historic partnership. Over the years, Ethiopian has been an aviation pioneer in Africa, flying technologically- advanced airplanes such as the Boeing 777, 787 and soon the 737 MAX as well. It’s an honor to be Ethiopian Airline’s partner. We are also proud to work with Ethiopian to continue a tradition of transporting humanitarian supplies on the delivery flight.”

“We are very pleased to deliver the 100th aircraft to Ethiopian Airlines, and to be a part of the airlines’ great success story,” said Aengus Kelly, CEO of AerCap. “We congratulate Tewolde Gebremariam and all the team at Ethiopian Airlines, and wish them continued success in leading the way in African aviation.”

Over the years, Ethiopian has been investing heavily in fleet modernization and expansion. Ethiopian was the first African airline and second only to Japan to operate the B787 Dreamliner in 2012 and the first carrier in Africa to usher with the Airbus A350 XWB in 2016.