Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines Use Aircraft Delivery to Make a Difference

Ethiopian Airlines and Boeing partnered two Puget Sound-based non-profit organizations, Seattle Alliance Outreach and Evangelical Africa Mission Outreach, to transport 7,300 pounds (3,311 kilograms) of medical and educational supplies to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on a newly delivered 777-300ER (Extended Range) airplane.

The 777-300ER, delivered to GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) for lease to Ethiopian Airlines, was loaded with a variety of medical equipment and supplies for the Black Lion Hospital, the largest general hospital in Ethiopia, along with more than 100 computers donated by the Bellevue, Wash. School District for use at Ethiopia's Goba High School.

"Ethiopian Airlines attaches the highest importance to its corporate social responsibility and its duty to give back to the community it serves," said Tewolde Gebremariam, chief executive officer, Ethiopian Airlines. "This is Ethiopian's 19th humanitarian flight in partnership with Boeing. We pledge to continue such humanitarian flights and to do even more in the future, as we expand our fleet."

This latest flight is part of Boeing's long-running Humanitarian Delivery Flights program that began in 1992. Since then, the program has worked in partnership with nearly 50 different carriers worldwide to undertake more than 150 humanitarian flights.

Ethiopian Airlines has been a significant partner on the program, undertaking the highest number of humanitarian flights of any airline with 19 in total. In the past 10 years alone, the Addis Abba-based carrier has transported around 150,000 pounds (68,039 kilograms) of humanitarian supplies, which is approximately the equivalent weight of 10 fully grown African elephants.

"We are grateful for Ethiopian Airlines' longstanding partnership and their commitment to bringing supplies to local communities," said Elizabeth Warman, director of Boeing Global Corporate Citizenship for the Northwest region. "Their dedication is humbling and it is our honor to support them in this work."

Seattle Alliance Outreach is an organization that provides support for the improvement of medical care in developing areas of the world with particular emphasis on anesthesia and peri-operative services.