The president was very happy to see the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Ethiopian colours and he thanked Ethiopian Airlines for being a very good long-time customer of Boeing and the USA. He said he has visited the factories in which they are made. He asked for the number of B-787 Dreamliners' ET operates and Ato Tewolde replied to the President that Ethiopian has 13 in service and eight on order.
• Very popular among customers;
• More humidity in the air which reduces fatigue and dryness;
• Largest windows in the air;
• Quietest airplane in its category;
• Saves 20% fuel burn over other airplanes in its category;
• Most environmentally friendly airplane.
There was also discussions in honor of Colonel Robinson and in recognition to what he has done for Ethiopia and the Ethiopian people. Ethiopian Airlines has decided to name one of its airplanes after him.
The president was interested to know the most profitable routes in relation to Ethiopian's vast network. GebreMariam briefed him mentioning some examples including Washington DC, Beijing, Shanghai, Changzhou, Hong Kong, and Luanda. GebreMariam further explained to Obama that Ethiopian Airlines was flying to 91 international destinations in five continents, (Washington DC and Los Angeles in the USA and Toronto in Canada, 52 destinations in Africa, 24 destinations in the middle East and Asia and 12 destinations in Europe). He also emphasized on further intensifying the already on-going efforts to re-open the USA Exim Bank as it is ET's main guarantor of the loans used to purchase Boeing airplanes.
