The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, an aircraft described as a piece of 21st century technology has touched ground on Nigerian soil at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, where the plane owned by Ethiopian Airline was given a ‘shower treatment’ as it landed.
The Dreamliner is a long-range, twin-engine jet airliner which seats 210 to 290 passengers, depending on the variant.
It is Boeing’s most fuel-efficient aircraft and the world’s first major plane to use composite materials for most of its construction.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner consumes 20% less fuel than other similarly-sized ones.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner offers passengers greatly enhanced on-board comfort, with higher level of humidity, the biggest windows in the sky and unique lighting system.
Outside Japan, Ethiopian Airline is the first airline to take delivery of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, when the aircraft made its first flight to Africa last week, landing in the Ethiopia capital.
Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways are the only two airlines already operating Dreamliner aircraft.
Ethiopian Airlines has bought 10 of Boeing’s flagship aircraft, which are built from lightweight material, rather than aluminum, to save fuel.
Speaking to Channels Television, the Acting director, Ethiopian Airline Nigeria, Solomon Begashaw, noted that the airline’s history of operating in Nigeria for 52years warranted the reason for the first African flight of the Dreamliner to be to Nigeria.