AFRICA’S FIRST black female Boeing 787 certified Captain, Irene Koki Mutungi delivered Kenya Airways’ fourth Dreamliner 5Y-KZD (c/n 36041) on August 28. In a momentous event for Africa’s aviation industry, Captain Mutungi flew the new aircraft from the US manufacturer’s final assembly line in Charleston, South Carolina to the carrier’s base at Nairobi/Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. On arrival, the jet received the traditional water cannon salute from the Kenya Airports Authority fire brigade.
The airline is in the process of updating its long-haul fleet, retiring its 767-300ERs from service and replacing them with nine Dreamliners. It has five more 787s on order from a deal signed with Boeing in March 2006, the next two are due in October, with the final pair arriving next year. Meanwhile, Kenya Airways has introduced the Dreamliner to its Paris, Johannesburg and Bangkok/Hong Kong services. “Besides enhancing our operational efficiencies and overall bottom line, the fleet renewal programme is expected to improve the customer experience, especially in our widebody fleet,” said Alex Mbugua, Finance Director for Kenya Airways. “This fleet modernisation programme also provides us with an opportunity to maintain our edge as a globally competitive airline. Indeed we are among the first 20 787 customers in the world,” he added.