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Airline was founded as Reunion Air Service and commenced operations in 1977 between St Dennis and Mayotte using Hawker Siddeley 748 turboprop. Airline provided scheduled passenger service between islands of Reunion and former French colonies in the Indian Ocean. In 1986 name changed to Air Reunion.
Airline acquired its first pure jet in 1990 when Boeing 737 joined the fleet. Service expansion to South Africa, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros followed. The same year airline chages its name to Air Austral to reflect scope of its new operations. In 2000 Air Austral introduces ATR 72-500 regional turboprop.
In June 2003 Air Austral acquires its first long haul jet when it leases a Boeing 777. Flights to Paris (CDG) are inaugurated. Soon Marseilles, Lyon and Toulouse are added to its long-haul network as well as Paris - Reunion - Sydney - Noumea route.
Airline also operates weekly seasonal service to Bangkok and code shares with Air Madagascar on their Reunion - Bangkok route.
founded - demised (age)
1975 - present (50years)
headquarters
4, rue de Nice - 97400, Saint Denis
web
base airports
related operators
current /stored fleet (9)
