ETHIOPIAN Airlines has relaunched its 787 Dreamliner fleet that also services the Zambian route with a direct flight from Addis Ababa to Lusaka.

The 787 Dreamliner fleet was grounded three months ago by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after a problem was detected on the aircraft’s battery system.

But following the FAA’s approval of the improved battery system, Ethiopian Airlines yesterday became the first airline to resume Dreamliner services.

Ethiopian Airlines Senior Vice President for Global Sales Esaya Woldemariam Hailu said Africa’s fastest growing airline relaunched its 787 Dreamliner fleet with a flight to Nairobi, Kenya.

Mr Hailu said after the relaunch 787 Dreamliner fleet would continue servicing the airline’s flagship routes including Lusaka which was among the first destinations the much sought-about aircraft first landed in Africa.

“We were told that most of Ethiopian passengers couldn’t wait for our 787 fleet to be flying again, the good news is that we are the first carrier to resume 787 services,” he said.

He said the Ethiopian Airlines 787 Dreamliner fleet did not suffer any technical hitch but that the airline ground operations in compliance with authorities.

Mr Hailu said safety was the airline’s priority and that even the decision to resume the 787 Dreamliner was arrived at on approval from technicians.

“The FAA approved the improvements to the 787 battery system. Dreamliner is back to provide unrivalled passenger comfort and a revolutionarry flying experience,” he said.

The relaunch of the Ethiopian Airlines 787 Dreamliner created as much hype with the world media swamping Addis Ababa airport to witness the giant aircraft make its way from the hangar.

The Japanese Government on Friday also gave a green light to airlines in the Far East country with 787 Dreamliner service to start using their fleet.

The move follows the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to allow 787s to fly again effective Friday after approving Boeing’s modified battery system last week, even though the root cause of the problem has not been found.

Transport minister Akihiro Ota said on Friday morning that multiple measures have been taken to eliminate fire risks, playing down any remaining safety concerns.

He said in an effort to restore the trust of the flying public, the ministry will ask ANA and JAL to apply voluntary safety measures, such as enhancing monitoring of battery voltage.

Aviation authorities worldwide grounded the 787 after one operated by ANA made an emergency landing at Takamatsu Airport in Kagawa Prefecture on January 16th due to smoke in the cockpit.

Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda has said investors are increasingly showing confidence in Zambia’s policy direction and its national stability.

Mr Chikwanda said investors and other international partners were reporting satisfaction with Zambia’s policy consistency, national stability and its impressive social cohesion.

The minister said this in London yesterday in a special interview.

He said “Investors perceive Zambia as a good investment destination because of the proven political and policy stability over a long period of time.”

The sentiments are contained in a press statement released by Zambia’s Press Secretary to the United Kingdom, Amos Chanda.

He said investors were attracted to Zambia because its policies were consistent and predictable.

“We cannot put up with policy summersaults as we seek more open ways to engage with the rest of the world,” he said.

He dispelled as grossly misdirected, assertions in some circles that Zambia was moving towards capital controls saying the government had simply introduced monitoring mechanisms to enable the Central Bank capture vital statistics.

“For planning purposes we need to monitor what is produced and the true worth of those goods and services, especially mining exports. The Central Bank simply requests exporters to complete relevant forms for statistical purposes. How does that become capital controls?” Mr Chikwanda asked.

He said Zambia had the most liberal economy in the entire sub-continent adding that investors had special accounts with unfettered access as and when they pleased.

The minister said “we neither have capital controls nor exchange controls… we are a very open economy compared to none on the continent.”

He said that Zambian investors were able to repatriate their profits unhindered as long as they met all the statutory obligations.

Mr Chikwanda announced that government had engaged special consultants to advise the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) on mining production and taxation in a bid to maximise tax collection from the country’s core economic sector.

Mr Chikwanda held consultations with different investors in London on his way from the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings in Washington DC and he returns to Lusaka tomorrow.