Groupe Dubreuil, parent firm to Air Caraibes (TX, Pointe à Pitre) and Air Caraibes Atlantique (CAJ, Paris Orly), has announced plans to create a Low Cost Carrier catering to the longhaul market niche. Tentatively known as SunLine, the LCC will specialize in leisure flights with a provisional launch date of June 2016. The Group says it has acquired an HGW A330-300 for the project's initial operations.

"In a dynamic global market, we believe that there is a place in France for a solid carrier, dedicated to long-haul routes with heavy traffic, and capable of offering competitive prices while providing superior customer service," Jean-Paul Dubreuil, Chairman of the Group's Supervisory Board said. "A company based on completely new principles, equipped with the most efficient aircraft, backed by a strong and competent private group, has all chances to succeed and contribute to the development of French air transport."

The Group expects to finalize the airline's name, route network, and fleet plan in the coming months.

Currently, Groupe Dubreuil uses Air Caraïbes as a regional Caribbean airline with its Air Caraïbes Atlantique offering longhaul flights to Europe. Of its seven A350-900s on order from Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac), the Group will take delivery of its first in June 2017 with the rest to follow between December 2017 and 2024.