First Thomson 787 Dreamliner flight from the UK arrives in Mauritius
Thomson Airways yesterday, 27 April, celebrated the departure of its first flight to Mauritius. This flight was possible thanks to the revolutionary flying range of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which Thomson Airways started operating early last year.
Thomson operated flight TOM 0054 from the UK’s London Gatwick Airport. It departed at 12:35 (GMT) yesterday and touched down in Mauritius for the first time less than 12hours later.
The 787 Dreamliner has revolutionised air travel, leaving holidaymakers more relaxed and refreshed after a long flight than ever before. The plane offers comfort and wellbeing features on-board which reduce the effects of jet-lag and turbulence meaning holidays get off to an even better start. As well as being more comfortable, it’s also more environmentally friendly than similar-sized aircraft using approximately 20% less fuel.
Customer Satisfaction Questionnaires (CSQ), which are collected on the return journey of a customer’s holiday to gather feedback on the flight and holiday experience, show that 97% of all respondents rated their experience on board the Thomson 787 Dreamliner last summer as good or excellent, and a massive 99% would recommend the airline after travelling on the new plane.
Thomson Airways will operate the direct and non-stop weekly flights to Mauritius from London Gatwick airport making the destination more convenient and desirable for a far-flung holiday.
Karl Mootoosamy MTPA Director, said:
“Figures are up year on year for Mauritius and in 2013 we saw a 11.9% increase in UK visitor numbers, which we hope to build on in 2014. To help us reach our targets Thomson’s new Dreamliner service will come as a welcome addition and we celebrated the inaugural flight with a traditional Sega dance performance as it touched down on the island. We are delighted to welcome these UK holidaymakers who will enjoy the island’s melting pot of cultures, contrasting landscapes and myriad of activities.”
Chris Browne, Managing Director of Thomson Airways comments:
“We are thrilled to offer direct flights to Mauritius on the Thomson 787 Dreamliner and we are confident that our customers will love the destination as much as they do the aircraft.
“The Dreamliner makes it possible to reach Mauritius in less time than ever making it a more comfortable and more convenient journey than ever to get to this incredible destination.”
The Thomson 787 Dreamliner carries 291 passengers. Premium Club seats 47 in a 2-3-2 configuration, with a 38” pitch, and Economy Club seats 244 in a 3-3-3 configuration, with an industry leading 33” or 34” pitch.
Thomson Airways currently has four Boeing 787 Dreamliners in the fleet and will take delivery of another four by May 2015.
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