I’ve taken countless flights during my career at Boeing. But I can tell you the one I took today may be the most special.
I had the privilege of being on the first 787 to return to commercial service with our new battery system. Ethiopian Airlines flight 801 from Addis Ababa to Nairobi landed earlier today.
The flight left on time, landed early and was truly perfect. Many of the passengers had no idea they’d be flying on the 787 until the bus dropped them off at the air stairs.

It was a fantastic, party-like atmosphere as we boarded. As one surprised passenger told me after realizing he’d be flying on the Dreamliner—“this is history.”
We got some hard questions about the battery system from the media who flew with us, but they were the right questions. And more than words could say— the most powerful statement came when the airplane made a flawless flight.
Congratulations to Ethiopian Airlines for another first. First to fly the 787 in Africa—and the first to return the 787 to service. You can always track the latest 787 updates at this link.