By Akram Medhat
Captain Ahmed Adel, chairman of EgyptAir Holding Company, received at Cairo Airport EgyptAir's second "Dreamliner", a Boeing B787-9 Dreamliner, which was flown from the US city of Seattle to Cairo by Captain Hossam Kamal, former Minister of Civil Aviation.
In this context, Adel said that everything new at EgyptAir will change many perceptions among the company's customers regarding the travel experience aboard its modern fleet, as the company continues to enhance its advanced service standards by introducing new Boeing 787 aircraft into its fleet as part of its plan to modernize its long-haul fleet.
The aircraft was received upon its arrival at Cairo Airport by Captain Ashraf El-Kholy, chairman of EgyptAir Airlines, Captain Sherif Khalil, chairman of EgyptAir Express, and Captain Mohamed Elian, assistant chairman of EgyptAir Airlines.
For his part, El-Kholy said that adding Dreamliner aircraft to EgyptAir's fleet has provided greater capacity to compete in the regional and global air transport industry by raising the level of services offered to passengers and serving the route network efficiently and effectively. He added that the six new aircraft of this type, in addition to the other types, meet the company's current and future operational needs.
He revealed that the first flight of the first Boeing B787-9 Dreamliner departed today from Frankfurt Airport with 254 passengers on board, while the second aircraft of this type, which joined the fleet today, will operate on the same route starting Monday, April 22.
This type is considered a revolution in the world of aviation, as it is capable of flying long distances non-stop with the maximum possible payload, which makes it suitable for operation on the company's routes in North America, the Far East and Europe.
Dreamliner capabilities: luxury and safety
The B787-9 Dreamliner seats 309 passengers, divided into 30 Super Diamond full-flat bed seats in Business Class and 279 seats in Economy Class. The aircraft is equipped with windows with electronic dimming shades, as well as more spacious room for each passenger, with seats that can be converted electronically into a fully separate bed and adjusted to three main positions: sitting during takeoff and landing, dining and sleeping.
In addition, safety systems are available at every seat, including three-point seat belts for the waist and shoulder and airbags to protect the passenger's head in emergencies, while the seat is fitted with an integrated rear shell to provide passengers with privacy during the flight.
As for the lighting systems inside the aircraft, they are individual with telescopic movement and changeable LED lighting, providing each passenger with independent reading light without disturbing other passengers. Seats are equipped with a number of power outlets for charging phones or laptops during the flight, via electrical, USB and MP3 ports, and passengers have a touch-operated seat-position control unit.
The Dreamliner stands out for the ability of the ventilation systems in the passenger cabin to noticeably humidify and purify the air, giving travelers greater comfort during the flight and after the journey.
The aircraft also features a modern engineering design, as well as dynamic cabin lighting that changes during the flight, from lighting resembling daylight at takeoff, to warm lighting at mealtimes, to dim lighting in the evening.
As for entertainment, there is an 18-inch touchscreen in Business Class and a 12-inch screen in Economy Class. The touchscreen control units include a unique dual-use interface that enables passengers to play games on the handset while watching a film on their own screen. During the flight, passengers have continuous connectivity via WiFi and GPRS technology, enabling them to send text and picture messages.
USB ports allow passengers to view photos from a digital camera on their personal screen, while content from personal phones can be displayed via port connections on the mini TV screens in front of passengers, so they stay constantly connected to work and entertainment.
