#AVIATION
A fortnight ago, 287 Kenyans, some flying for the very first
time, got a memorable and rare treat from the national carrier Kenya
Airways, aboard the carrier’s newly acquired Boeing B787-8
Dreamliner. Well, my attempts to put up the KQ-stickers on my parent’s
car for the competition were unfruitful, but my friend had the rare treat-
flying for the very first time. Here is his story as told to me…
“The two-and-a-half hours round-about Kenya demonstration flight
started at the KQ hub in Nairobi’s JKIA. The plane is only Africa’s second
Dreamliner, after Ethiopian Airlines acquired one last year. It brings advanced
technology in the aviation industry.
On take off; the futuristic jetliner nosed its way towards Thika,
through to Magadi and lunch was served as the plane flew over the Amboseli
National Park. The beautiful Mount Kilimanjaro panned before
excited flyers as they took out their smartphones, cameras ad tablets, clicking
away at the “roof of Africa.”
The plane flew over Mombasa- Kenya’s first capital and
headed for Malindi. The crew and passengers, who comprised of travel
agents, tour operators, journalist, KQ staff and corporate executives,
had joined the lucky few with birthdays falling on May 15th for a truly
unique celebration.
The crew, including the pilot, Captain Eugene Musindi, was all Kenya,
and KQ CEO Titus Naikuni mingled with passengers during the flight to get their
opinions of the carrier’s newest addition, which takes its fleet to 46 planes.
KQ has ordered nine such aircrafts, with six of them to be
delivered this year. Naikuni who is about to retire, said the
Dreamliner is poised to make its long haul debut in early June with scheduled flights
on the Nairobi/Paris route. Besides Paris, Shanghai and Beijing
routes will also be considered once the ordered Dreamliners arrive. A West
African route and Bangkok/ Honkong route has also been established. First
class flight experience aboard the Dreamliner is here guys!
By Captain Embukane Vincent Libosso.
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