Air Austral Becomes First French Airbus A220 Operator in the Indian Ocean Region

Indian Ocean-based Air Austral has received their first of three Airbus A220-300s on order, becoming the first French operator of the aircraft type in the region. The airline will receive their second and third A220-300 in the coming days.

On Tuesday (July 27, 2021), Airbus announced that Indian-Ocean based carrier Air Austral has received their first of three A220-300s on order, which was delivered from the A220 Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Mirabel, Canada. Based in France’s La Réunion Island, Air Austral becomes the first French operator of the aircraft type in the Indian Ocean region. In the coming days, the carrier will receive the other two A220-300s. Air Austral selected the aircraft as part of their short and medium-haul fleet modernization program to boost operational efficiency. The aircraft has been configured with 12 Business Class and 120 Economy Class seats, offering guests an enhanced and more comfortable experience.

Air Austral’s new A220-300 sports a distinctive livery featuring beautiful landscapes from La Réunion Island and will be deployed on routes to Mauritius, Mayotte, Seychelles, South Africa, Madagascar and India. The aircraft is powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engines, delivering the quietest and most eco-friendly experience in its class, with a 50 percent reduction in noise footprint, 25 percent lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions, and 50 percent lower NOx emissions versus current industry standards. Airbus has delivered over 160 A220s to date, which are currently operating in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa.

Source: Airbus