Ethiopian A350XWB 'Siemens' receives water salutes

Africa's first Airbus A350XWB (XWB stands for extra-wide body) made her maiden landing at Entebbe International Airport on Wednesday, and was welcomed with the traditional water-salute.

This aircraft, Airbus' most technologically advanced passenger airliner, is the European plane manufacturer's answer to fierce American rival Boeing's B787 Dream liner.

Both the A350 XWB and B787 are the latest generation of long range aircraft that aviation's big two manufactures think will rule today's skies.

Like her competitor, the B787 Dreamliner is largely constructed from carbon fiber. These two also have single piece fuselage sections to reduce the number of fasteners which also reduces weight.

Because of the material used to construct the two planes, they are light compared to other plane models and hence very fuel efficient. They can fly over 8,000 miles without refueling.

Ethiopian Airlines is the first African Airline to take delivery of the A350XWB. The Ethiopian national carrier was also the second in the world to take the delivery of the B787 Dreamliner

 Inside the craft

The A350XWB will operate on Ethiopian Airlines Route network across the globe said Abebe Angessa, Ethiopian Airlines Uganda Country Manager, he further said the airline will continue using the available modern fleet  on the Addis-Ababa-Entebbe route.

"We operate three flights between Addis Ababa and Entebbe every day. Depending on passenger load AB350XWB will operate on Ethiopian Airlines route network across the globe," he told the New Vision.

The A350XWB landed at 12:15pm on Wednesday and was welcomed with the water salute. In aviation, the water salute is given whenever a new aircraft lands at an airport for the first time.

The salute is given when an airline is closing a route which is why the last flight of British Airways out of Entebbe to London in October last year was accorded a water salute.