Boeing, Ethiopian Airlines and Seattle Anesthesia Outreach Join Together for first 787 Dreamliner Humanitarian Flight

EVERETT, Wash., Oct. 24, 2012 /3BL Media/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) joined with Ethiopian Airlines and Seattle Anesthesia Outreach (SAO) to deliver approximately 20,000 pounds (9,000 kilograms) of medical supplies to Ethiopia's largest hospital. The delivery was made to Black Lion Hospital using Ethiopian's third 787 Dreamliner, marking the first time a Dreamliner has been used as part of Boeing's Humanitarian Delivery Flights program.

"Ethiopian Airlines is one of Boeing's most active partners in our Humanitarian Delivery Flights program," said Liz Warman, director of Boeing Global Corporate Citizenship for the Northwest region. "Our two companies have a long history together not only buying and selling airplanes, but also in leveraging our resources to help those in need."

The airplane was delivered and flew away from Everett on Oct. 22 and flew directly to Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, where it will land after an approximately 15-hour nonstop flight.

"Ethiopian Airlines continues to be a leader in corporate social responsibility activities in Ethiopia," said Tewolde GebreMariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines. "As the flag carrier for the country of Ethiopia, we are viewed as not only an airline but also as a source of vital service for the people of Ethiopia. We are proud and honored to work with Boeing to help our people and country where we have such great needs."

The shipment includes several anesthesia machines to be used in the hospital's operating rooms, patient monitoring equipment, as well as intensive care beds and other surgical equipment. SAO has more than 20 physicians, nurses and technicians in Addis Ababa who will help set up the equipment and spend the several weeks teaching in the hospital.

"Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines continue to be critical partners and supporters of our organization, helping us get these needed medical supplies to Black Lion Hospital, the largest public hospital and main teaching facility in Ethiopia," said Dr. Julian Judelman, board member of Seattle Anesthesia Outreach. "Thanks to this partnership, we have been able to ship 40 tons of medical equipment over the last two years at little to no cost, which is important for a small non-profit organization like ours."

The Boeing Humanitarian Delivery Flights program is a collaboration effort between Boeing, airline customers and non-profit organizations to deliver humanitarian aid throughout the world to communities in need or crisis. The humanitarian items are loaded into the empty cargo space of new airplanes being delivered and transported to the customer's home destination.

Ethiopian Airlines is committed to support worthy social activities that are designed to help build sustainable livelihoods for individuals, the community and the society in general. In doing so it has left its mark on major social initiatives in Africa.

Ethiopian Airlines has seven 787 Dreamliners remaining on order. The airline is the first African operator of the 787, 777-200LR and 777 Freighter. Ethiopian Airlines currently operates an all-Boeing fleet of 737, 757, 767, 777, and 787 airplanes in passenger service, and has 757, MD11, 777F and 747 airplanes in cargo operations.

Contact: 
Adam Morgan
Boeing Commercial Airplanes International Communications
+1 206.766.2229 (desk)
+1 281.386.4396 (cell) 
adam.k.morgan@boeing.com

Esete Yeshitla
Ethiopian Airlines
+251 11(5) 178407
esetey@ethiopianairlines.com

Photo and caption are available here: http://boeing.mediaroom.com