Air Austral adds the Airbus A220-300 to its medium-haul fleet
Air Austral has officially received the first of the three A220-300s it ordered from Airbus in October 2019. The A220-300 acquisition process was successfully finalised today, 27 July 2021, at 06:14 precisely, Mirabel time (Canada). The second and third aircraft will be delivered shortly. Air Austral is continuing with its progressive strategy and is now the first French airline to have added this type of latest-generation aircraft to its fleet.
The three new aircraft will land in Reunion Island on 12 August 2021 and will streamline and modernise Air Austral’s medium-haul fleet by replacing two Boeing 737-800NGs and the ATR 72-500.
“The arrival of this new aircraft is a significant moment for Air Austral, even more so in the current health crisis which we have been enduring for more than a year now. I would like to thank and congratulate the teams and partners who made this important and strategic acquisition possible for Air Austral, and for its future. This is an essential and responsible investment for us: the Airbus A220-300 will open up new horizons for us. It is the aircraft we needed to reinforce our pioneering position in the Indian Ocean and offer long-term profitability. The A220-300’s level of comfort and performance means that we have been able to make a major leap in operational and environmental efficiency. Our regional service is going from strength to strength. We look forward to sharing this new travel experience with our customers and will do so once the health situation improves. We are, more than ever before, ready for business recovery. ” Marie-Joseph Malé, Air Austral CEO
“We extend a warm welcome to Air Austral, who has just joined the ever-growing community of A220 customers and operators. With the efficient A220, Air Austral will be able to extend its domestic and regional offer in the Indian Ocean and passengers will enjoy travelling in a spacious, bright and modern cabin.” Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer
In total, Air Austral has taken delivery of three Airbus A220-300s which translates as a totally renewed short- and medium-haul fleet. The Reunion Island-based airline is now more than ready to resume its international routes and has confirmed its ambitions for the Indian Ocean, which has always been at the heart of its strategy.
The Airbus A220-300, an intermediary-sized aircraft, will offer an improved flight experience with a quieter, more spacious and brighter cabin for each passenger.
The aircraft is powered by Pratt & Whitney’s new generation PurePower PW1500G Geared Turbofan engines. It is the quietest and most environmentally friendly aircraft in its class and is fully in line with Air Austral’s eco-friendly approach. The A220-300 features a 50% reduction in noise footprint compared to the previous generation of aircraft, 25% lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions per seat, and 50% lower NOx emissions than current industry standards.
It will be able to serve all Air Austral’s destinations within a radius of 6,000 km (3,200 nautical miles). Until now, restrictions within Air Austral’s short- and medium-haul network have required the use of two Boeing 737-800NGs and an ATR 72-500, each with their own crews and maintenance procedures. These three aircraft will now be replaced.
By streamlining its short- and medium-haul fleet to include only Airbus A220-300s, Air Austral will optimise its costs and implement a more flexible and robust operating model which will progressively lead to a more extensive regional network.
To begin with, Air Austral will operate its Airbus A220-300s between Reunion Island and Mayotte, then between Reunion Island and Mauritius. Once restrictions are lifted, services to Madagascar, the Seychelles, the Comoros, India and South Africa will be added. The aircrafts’ livery, designed to enhance the Island’s image, will help to extend Reunion Island’s influence to each of these destinations.