Corsair International (Paris Orly) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Pascal de Izaguirre, says his airline will phase out its three remaining ex-United Airlines (UA, Chicago O'Hare) B747-400s by 2017. With fleet renewal now a top priority for the airline, De Izauirre told Tourmag that a decision on a replacement for the type would be taken before year end.

"The three B747 remaining will be out of the fleet by 2017. And we're working on it. At the end of 2014, we will have made a final decision on future aircraft. Right now, I am unable to give you an answer. We’re investigating all possibilities," he said.

Corsair also operates a pair each of A330-200s and A330-300s on international scheduled and charter services to 10 destinations in the French overseas territories, Africa and North America.

While De Izauirre also noted that his airline would be open to attracting new investors, the need was not currently urgent and would only be explored as and when opportunities arose.

Among the greatest difficulties confronting the carrier at present time is increasingly cut-throat competition on its Caribbean mainstay routes.