VICTORIA, Seychelles, Reunion airline Air Austral has not decided to suspend its flights to Seychelles, despite temporarily suspending ticket sales for flights between Reunion and Seychelles. The clarification came in a press communiqué issued in the afternoon, after numerous Reunion news media had reported on the rumoured route suspensions earlier in the morning. The airline wanted to set the record straight on the future of its Seychelles service.
The airline clarified that it is having to review its flight schedule, after two of its aircraft have been grounded due to technical issues. As a precaution, certain flights have been temporarily closed for sale, notably to the Seychelles and Madagascar, but no decision to suspend the route has to date been taken by the company. The technical problems affecting its fleet have forced the airline to consolidate its operations in the short term.
As per the company, it is currently working on different hypotheses for the next season. Air Austral teams are currently working on hypotheses for its flight programme for the next IATA season which starts on April 1 and runs until October 27, 2024. These hypotheses are built on the basis of the availability of its regional fleet. The company is exploring multiple options to ensure that the Seychelles route remains viable.
Currently, Air Austral is facing the indefinite immobilisation of two of its ATR 72-500s out of the three that make up its fleet. The grounding of the two aircraft has significantly reduced the airline’s capacity in the region, forcing it to prioritise certain routes over others. The situation has been compounded by global supply chain issues affecting the aviation industry, which have made it difficult to source spare parts and complete repairs in a timely manner.
The airline has assured customers who have already booked tickets that they will be accommodated on alternative flights or offered refunds where necessary. Air Austral has also committed to providing regular updates on the situation as it evolves. The Seychelles tourism industry has been watching the situation closely, given the importance of the Reunion market for the country’s tourism sector.
