Boeing and the Republic of Ghana on Tuesday revealed that the country intends to re-launch an airline starting with 787-9 Dreamliners. The parties signed a memorandum of understanding at the Dubai Air Show covering three of the airplanes valued $877.5 million according to list prices. Plans call for the airline to launch operations in the first quarter of next year and take its first three airplanes directly from Boeing.

“There is a growing demand for air travel to and from Ghana and we believe the advanced 787-9 Dreamliner gives us an efficient and flexible machine to launch a regional network and eventually serve international destinations in the future,” said Ghanaian aviation minister Joseph Kofi Adda. “The 787 has an excellent reputation for its operational performance, fuel efficiency, and passenger experience and we are confident that we have the right partner for our new carrier.”

Adda said the carrier, to be based in Accra, would establish the capital city as a strategic hub that serves cities across West Africa. Plans for the more distant future call for the addition of destinations in Europe, North America, and Asia and for the government to open the airline to private investment and operation.