On October 1st, a brand new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner took off from Everett Paine Field in Washington (United States) for Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). The aircraft was being delivered from Boeing’s final assembly facilities to its customer, Ethiopian Airlines. However, this wasn’t a typical delivery flight. Instead, it was a humanitarian delivery flight which saw the aircraft loaded with humanitarian supplies.
A special delivery flight
The flight was a collaboration between Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines, marking their 40th humanitarian delivery flight.
According to Boeing, the new 787-9 Dreamliner departed Everett, Washington, carrying more than 20,000 pounds of humanitarian supplies. The shipment, including supplies for health care and family needs. These supplies will be distributed to hospitals, clinics, and charities in the Addis Ababa region.
“Ethiopian Airlines has been deeply involved in transporting critical COVID-19 supplies to support communities during these difficult and challenging times…Building on our history of collaboration in humanitarian flights, we are partnering with Boeing to bring home health care supplies.” -Kagnew F. Asfaw, Vice President ET Holidays & Digital Sales, Ethiopian Airlines.
Support from Seattle’s Ethiopian community
Asfaw continues by thanking the Ethiopian community and several organizations in Seattle, who donated the supplies. Three charitable partners in Seattle provided humanitarian supplies on the flight:
- Resolute Health Outreach (RHO),
- The Ethiopian National COVID-19 Response Task Force of Seattle
- and Embuaa Family.
These groups contributed supplies ranging from face masks, wipes, and sterile gloves to exam tables, bassinets, medicine, and more.
“Over the past 10 years, RHO has donated 200 tons of medical equipment to Ethiopia…This would not be possible without the help and cooperation of Ethiopian Airlines and Boeing. We are grateful for their commitment to this humanitarian project.” -Dr. Richard Solazzi, board chair at Resolute Health Outreach.
Flight details
According to data from FlightRadar24.com, the 787-9 was registered as ET-AYC and operated flight ET9201. The aircraft departed Everett on October 1st at 19:22 local time, arriving at 20:28 local time in Addis Ababa. The total flight time was an impressive 15 hours and six minutes.
Boeing says that its Humanitarian Delivery Flight Program was launched in 1992 as a collaboration between the plane manufacturer and its customers to transport humanitarian supplies assistance worldwide on newly delivered airplanes with otherwise empty cargo holds.
To date, there have been over 200 humanitarian delivery flights. More than 1.6 million pounds of critical supplies have been delivered since the start of the program.
“We are honored that Boeing is able to assist customers like Ethiopian Airlines as they transport critical medical supplies and support their local communities through the Humanitarian Delivery Fight program, especially during a challenge as significant as the COVID-19 pandemic,” -Cheri Carter, vice president of Boeing Global Engagement
Did you know about Boeing’s Humanitarian Delivery Flight Program? Or is this the first time you’re hearing about it? Let us know in the comments.
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