Air Austral restructures operations

Air Austral, the French airline based in the Indian Ocean territory of Reunion, has announced a restructure of its network as part of the northern winter schedule period, commencing in October 2012. As part of the next schedule, effective from late October, the airline will suspend its services to Sydney, Noumea in New Caledonia and the French cities of Bordeaux, Toulouse, Marseille, Lyon and Nantes. The airline is however in discussions with an airline operating already in the Australian market, effective from the northern winter schedule, enabling it to continue serving travellers from Australia to Reunion and beyond. With continued high operating costs, in particular aviation fuel, coupled with low yields on a number of international routes, Air Austral said it believes the proposed restructure "represents a sensible and responsible operational strategy in the current challenging climate". Additional details of the restructure, and procedures for travel agents to rebook passengers, are expected to be announced once finalised.