Wednesday 25 May 2016

REUNION: Air Austral Takes Delivery Of Its First Boeing 787-8

Air Austral's first Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner is now enroute from the Boeing facility in Everett, Washington State to Reunion Island and is expected to land in the morning at the Roland Garros International Airport of the capital St. Denis after a 10.500 miles ferry flight.

This first of two such aircraft ordered will help the airline to boost the present fleet of among others B777's and B737-800's and allow for additional long haul flights.

Only two months ago did the airline finally settle with Airbus where it had cancelled an order for the A380 before now taking delivery of one of the world's most advanced airliners.

This French island deep in the Indian Ocean has become one of the world's foremost adventure destinations and, as part of the Vanilla Island organization, forms part of a group of 7 islands seeking to tap into a fast growing cruise / fly and multi island holiday market.

Reunion’s Air Austral has taken delivery of its first Boeing 787-8, becoming the first French operator to take the type.

The Rolls-Royce Trent 1000-powered aircraft is scheduled to land at Roland Garros airport in Saint-Marie, Reunion Island on 25 May.

“The state of the art 787 Dreamliner’s unique capabilities enable us to launch the Dzaoudi to Paris Charles de Gaulle route,” says Marie-Joseph Male, executive chairman and chief executive at Air Austral.

The airline announced an order for two 787-8s in 2015, says Boeing.

Flightglobal’s Fleets Analyzer database shows that the carrier has eight aircraft in service, comprising three Boeing 777-300ERs, three 737s and two ATR 72s.

The airline also apparently cancelled the two Airbus A380s it had on order earlier this year.

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