Air TransportAir Austral to replace its A220-300s with two A320neos from 2027
Air Austral has announced plans to replace three Airbus A220-300 aircraft with two Airbus A320neo jets, with deliveries scheduled for March and May 2027.
The French carrier, based on Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean, has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with the leasing company Macquarie AirFinance.
“This choice constitutes an important step to durably consolidate our medium-haul operations and support our growth,” said Hugues Marchessaux, Air Austral CEO.
In September, Air Austral management revealed that it would cease flying its A220s due to low aircraft availability caused by problems with the Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engine.
The company expects to finalize the operational leasing contract in the coming weeks. In parallel, Air Austral is reviewing options for the renewal of its long-haul fleet through 2030.
The selection of the A320neo followed discussions with both Airbus and Boeing, with decisions anchored in criteria such as capacity and performance.
Although no official statement has been made, the choice of engine for the A320neo is likely to fall on the CFM Leap-1, since the A320neo also flies with the Pratt & Whitney turbofan, which is experiencing the same problem that affected the A220.
The carrier introduced its first Airbus A220-300 in July 2021 as part of a fleet renewal strategy aimed at regional efficiency. However, persistent engine problems have led to two of the three aircraft being grounded, the F-OLAV and F-OTER registrations.
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