Reunion Island-Based Carrier Becomes First 787 French Operator

The first Dreamliner to enter service with a French operator has been delivered to Air Austral. The newest addition to the Air Austral long-haul fleet touched down at Roland Garros Airport in Saint-Marie, Reunion Island May 25 following a 10,500-mile delivery flight originating from the Boeing Everett Delivery Center in Everett, WA.

"The state of the art 787 Dreamliner's unique capabilities enable us to launch the Dzaoudi to Paris Charles de Gaulle route," said Marie-Joseph Male, executive chairman and chief executive officer, Air Austral. "This airplane is the most advanced in the world, with superior operating economics all while providing our passengers an unrivalled on-board experience."

The 787 is a family of technologically advanced, super-efficient airplanes with new passenger-pleasing features. In addition to bringing big-jet ranges to midsize airplanes, the 787 will provide Air Austral with unmatched fuel efficiency and environmental performance, using 20 to 25 percent less fuel and with 20 to 25 percent fewer emissions than the airplanes it replaces.

"It is an honor to deliver the first 787 Dreamliner to Air Austral, a first for a French operator," said Van Rex Gallard, vice president sales Latin America, Caribbean and Africa, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The Dreamliner will complement Air Austral's growing long-haul fleet, made up of 777s and now a 787, as well as its transcontinental network to Europe and Asia."

Air Austral announced an order for two 787-8 Dreamliners in 2015. Air Austral was founded in 1975 and currently operates a fleet of nine aircraft to over 10 destinations worldwide.

(Image provided with Boeing news release)

FMI: www.boeing.com