Ethiopian Airlines receives another Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft

08:17, December 20, 2010  Source:  Xinhua:   Ethiopian Airlines said on Sunday that it has received the second delivery of a Boeing 777- 200LR, making it the first African airliner to possess and operate the ultra-long-range aircraft.

The aircraft arrived at Bole International Airport on Saturday, an Ethiopian official told Xinhua in a statement.The newly arrived aircraft transported also anesthesia equipment valued at more than 500,000 U. S.dollars to Black Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa free of charge. The equipment was transported by the Ethiopian airlines in partnership with Boeing Company and Seattle Anesthesia Outreach.

The delivery is the part of Ethiopia's five orders to Boeing Company at the cost of 1.3 billion dollars

Ethiopian CEO Girma Wake said "since its inception, Ethiopian airline has been engaged in various corporate social responsibility activities which support community initiative and development efforts.""We see our planes as not only a resource for our airline but also a resource of vital service for the people of Ethiopia, and when we can use that resource in a manner such as this, it truly reaffirms our commitment to undertake social responsibilities whenever and wherever we can."Boeing Global Corporate Citizenship for Northwest Region Director Liz Warman said, " Boeing and its airline partners have been working to fill what is sometimes empty cargo space to help bring relief to people around the globe."

Most of the medical supplies being shipped to Ethiopia were donated by Swedish Medical Center which is the largest and most comprehensive non-profit health provider in the Great Seattle area.