Air Austral is gradually returning to normal on its regional flights as it relaunches its link between Reunion and Chennai in India, with up to two flights a week in the heat of summer.
From May 6, the French company will offer one flight per week between its base in Saint Denis-Roland Garros and Chennai airport, operated by the new Airbus A220-300s that can accommodate 132 passengers, including 12 in Premium “Comfort” class and 120 in “Leisure” Economics.
Departures are scheduled at 10:20 p.m. to arrive the next day at 6:00 a.m. (except for the first two flights, 11:05 a.m. – 6:45 p.m.), and return flights leaving Tamil Nadu on Saturday at 7:10 a.m. to land at 11:50 a.m. (flight duration 6:10 a.m.).
From July 12, a second weekly rotation will be implemented on Tuesdays.
No other carrier operates between Réunion and Chennai and is also the third-longest route in the world operated by the A220 if we are to go with the announced flight time.
The airline explains in a press release that the resumption of these flights comes “after several months of suspension during the pandemic and with the agreement of its supervisory authorities, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Indian authorities”.
Its current regional program is as follows:
Reunion – Mayotte: minimum one flight per day and up to 9 weekly flights
Reunion – Mauritius: minimum one flight per day and up to 4 flights per day
Reunion – Madagascar: Air Austral is now authorized to serve Antananarivo from Reunion with 4 frequencies per week. The days of operations and times of the two additional frequencies are currently awaiting approval by Malagasy civil aviation.
Reunion – Johannesburg: up to 3 frequencies per week
Reunion – Seychelles: up to two frequencies per week
Reunion – Moroni (Comoros): up to two frequencies per week.
At the same time, Air Austral is strengthening its long-haul program between Reunion and Paris (the longest domestic flight), as well as between Mayotte and Paris, during the high season “by adding additional capacity during school holidays”.
This flight program is “likely to be adjusted according to the evolution of the health situation”.
