Air Austral to retire entire Airbus A220 fleet amid ongoing engine issues

Air Austral has decided to withdraw its entire fleet of Airbus A220 aircraft, citing technical and operational challenges related to the type’s Pratt & Whitney GTF engines. The move, confirmed by company chairman Hugues Marchessaux at the IFTM TopResa event and reported by La Tribune, comes after several years of recurring groundings and disruptions impacting the airline’s regional network.

The French carrier, based in Réunion island in Indian Ocean, 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.

Only one A220, F-OMER, remains operational, forcing the airline to adjust schedules and use larger long-haul aircraft on short-haul routes.

According to Air Austral, the decision to retire the A220s follows four years marked by recurring technical issues and aircraft immobilizations, particularly on routes connecting La Réunion with destinations such as Mayotte, Madagascar, Mauritius, and South Africa.

The company described the measure as obligatory after months of evaluation, as ongoing maintenance difficulties with the Pratt & Whitney engines have undermined fleet reliability and regional connectivity.

Widebodies take on short-range flights

The grounding of two A220-300s has resulted in significant changes to Air Austral’s flight program, particularly during the peak summer travel period. The airline has replaced some A220-operated flights with widebody aircraft, affecting both scheduling and passenger experience on key regional routes.

Data indicates that the last operational A220, F-OMER, has been serving intra-island and nearby international routes, but the limited capacity has constrained the airline’s flexibility.

The Airbus A220-300s were delivered to Air Austral between July and the months following 2021, making the airline the first French A220 operator in the Indian Ocean region. Each aircraft was configured with 132 seats in a two-class layout, targeting improved operational efficiency and comfort. However, ongoing engine reliability issues have prevented the fleet from fulfilling these objectives.

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