Paris Air Show: Ethiopian Takes `Terrible Teens’ 787s from Boeing

By Seth Miller / Published June 17, 2015

LE BOURGET — A massive weight has been lifted from Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner inventory and transferred to Ethiopian Airlines as the carrier agreed to terms here today to acquire six of the “terrible teens” aircraft, ultimately bringing its fleet to 19.

These planes were early line numbers (hence the “teens” part of the moniker) and were some of the most significantly affected by rework efforts as flaws and shortcomings were found in the initial designs (hence the “terrible”). They have been parked at Paine Field outside the assembly line awaiting a customer for nearly five years now.

For Ethiopian Airlines, the 787 is a true game changer. Its hub at Addis Ababa sits at 7600 feet above sea level, making the increased performance of the 787 critical to meeting international growth plans for the carrier. North American routes have had the Rome tech stop removed, service to South America has been added and expansion further into Asia has been possible. And, while these Terrible Teens planes are heavier than later deliveries, to the tune of an estimated 1000 nautical mile-range penalty, they should still fit well within the carrier’s growth and modernization plans.

In a statement today Tewolde GebreMariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, spoke to the benefits the Dreamliner brings to the fleet, “This new addition to our fleet will not only benefit Ethiopian because of its unmatched operating costs, but will also help us to enhance overall travel experience of our customers,” he said.

It is possible that this subfleet may be limited from the longest routes because of the weight penalty and high altitude, but the carrier appears OK with that potential limitation right now. Also, by choosing these planes, delivery can happen much more quickly. And Ethiopian wants the planes quickly even though they are less efficient; adding “regular” 787s today would likely require waiting until the end of the decade or beyond for delivery slots.

And, for Boeing, unloading these aircraft is a milestone moment. They have remained a visible reminder of the early troubles the Dreamliner had and the challenges it has faced in getting to overall profitability for the line. Which is not to say that selling these aircraft has solved those problems, but at least now they will no longer be a visible reminder alongside the flight line in Everett.

Cover Image: Courtesy of JDLMultimedia

The AirwaysNews.com team continues to cover the latest news from the Paris Air Show. Keep up via our website, our Facebook page and Twitter.

Paris Air Show Stories:

A “Quiet” Paris Air Show: Great for Attendees and Observers

Paris Air Show 2015 (Day 0): Bombardier CSeries Aircraft Debuts at Le Bourget

Paris Air Show 2015: Qatar Orders 14 Boeing 777s, Ups Threat to Leave Oneworld

Paris Air Show 2015: SWISS Confirms CS-300 Order

Paris Air Show 2015: Honeywell Radar Improves Airport, Aircraft Efficiency

Paris Air Show: ATR Pushes High-density, High-efficiency Turboprops

Paris Air Show: Indonesia Takes Action on Aviation Safety Concerns

Paris Air Show: Boeing’s Little Orders Are Big Wins

Editor’s note: Have you subscribed to our weekly newsletter yet? Click here to subscribe today for a summary of our best stories, along with exclusive subscribers-only content.

—–

Contact the editor at benet.wilson@airwaysnews.com

The post Paris Air Show: Ethiopian Takes `Terrible Teens’ 787s from Boeing appeared first on Airchive.