Air Austral stays on Bangkok route

Air Austral has reversed an earlier decision to axe long-haul services to Sydney, Noumea and Bangkok this March.

Last year it announced a major shift to concentrate on services to France, but following an infusion of capital from Etihad Airways in its partner airline, Air Seychelles, the airline has reviewed the decision.

The airline was set to halt all services to Bangkok (26 March), Noumea and Sydney (20 March) to allow it to concentrate on its core market providing services between Reunion Island and France.

But a new strategic partnership between Air Seychelles and Etihad Airways that acquired a 40% stake in the airline and injected US$45 million in Air Seychelles has prompted a review of flight plans.

Etihad is expanding its influence  having taken a stake in Air Berlin as its attempts to gain more slots in Europe.

Air Austral’s first flight from Reunion for the summer will start on 7 April using the same B777-200ER aircraft.

The flight to Bangkok will depart 2015 every Saturday and will arrive at 0710 on the following day. The Reunion-bound flight will depart at 0100 on Monday arriving in Reunion at 0535.

From May onwards, the carrier will increase frequency to two flights weekly with an additional flight on Wednesday departing Reunion at 1205 and arriving in Bangkok at 2300. The additional flight will depart from Bangkok on Thursday at the same time.

Air Austral started serving Bangkok last April, after it stopped an earlier service in November 2006 that was under a code-share agreement with Air Madagascar on its Antananarivo – St Denis de la Reunion – Bangkok – Guangzhou route.

It has been flying to Sydney and Noumea since April 2009.

Source - ttrweekly