Airlink and Air Austral Unite to Enhance Regional Connectivity

Airlink and Air Austral have made a significant move to enhance air connectivity throughout Africa and the Indian Ocean by entering into a bilateral Special Prorate Agreement (SPA), now in effect. This collaboration provides passengers of both airlines access to a wide range of new destinations, ensuring increased flexibility, convenience, and smooth travel choices.

With this new arrangement, Air Austral passengers traveling from Réunion Island can now access Airlink’s extensive network of 45 destinations throughout South Africa and Southern Africa. This network includes major cities like Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, Windhoek, Lusaka, Gaborone, and Victoria Falls, among others. Travelers will enjoy seamless connections via Johannesburg, Airlink’s main hub, using Air Austral’s regular Réunion–Johannesburg service.

The SPA allows travelers to benefit from the ease of single-ticket journeys, with through check-in and baggage checked all the way to their final destination. This efficient process is intended to remove the necessity for multiple bookings and separate check-ins, greatly enhancing the travel experience for both leisure and business passengers.

Airlink customers, in return, can access Air Austral’s regional network, which extends beyond Réunion Island to destinations like Mauritius, Madagascar, Mayotte, the Comoros Islands, and the Seychelles. These routes, considered essential connections between Africa and the Indian Ocean, are now available to book on a single ticket through Airlink, making travel easier for South African and regional passengers.

Air Austral Chief Executive Officer Hugues Marchessaux hailed the partnership as a major step forward for the airline and for regional air travel. “This partnership represents a major milestone in the development of our network. By joining forces with Airlink, we are offering our customers more choice and flexibility to access Southern Africa.”

Airlink Chief Executive Officer De Villiers Engelbrecht echoed this sentiment, emphasising the broader significance of the agreement for tourism and trade. “This collaboration marks an exciting step forward in strengthening connectivity between the Indian Ocean islands and the African continent, unlocking new opportunities for trade, tourism, and cultural exchange. Together, we are building bridges that bring our regions closer and create lasting value for our customers.”

The newly established SPA is anticipated to enhance tourism traffic between Réunion Island and Southern Africa, while also fostering business and cultural interactions. Réunion, a French overseas department, is renowned for its varied landscapes, volcanic mountains, and lively cultural atmosphere, making it a favored tourist spot. Meanwhile, South Africa acts as a crucial entry point for travelers venturing into the African continent, rendering this partnership advantageous for both parties.

For years, air travel between the Indian Ocean islands and mainland Africa has been restricted, frequently necessitating multiple stops or complex itineraries. The collaboration between Airlink and Air Austral streamlines this process by combining their extensive route networks, effectively connecting East Africa, Southern Africa, and the Indian Ocean.

The agreement further enhances Johannesburg's position as a regional aviation hub, providing passengers from Réunion with convenient access to both domestic and regional destinations. At the same time, travelers from Southern Africa now benefit from easier access to the Indian Ocean island nations, which are becoming more popular for leisure travel, investment, and regional collaboration.

Besides enhancing passenger convenience, the SPA could positively impact the economies reliant on tourism in both areas. Better air connectivity generally results in more visitors, increased spending, and expanded opportunities for cross-border business growth.

Air Austral, established and headquartered on Réunion Island, is a French airline acknowledged as a key figure in air transport within the Indian Ocean area. The airline provides flights connecting mainland France with various regional destinations such as Reunion, Mauritius, Mayotte, the Comoros Islands, Madagascar, the Seychelles, South Africa, and Thailand.

Air Austral continues to maintain key strategic partnerships, including a codeshare with Air France at Paris-Charles de Gaulle, allowing passengers to connect across Europe, and a TGV’Air partnership enabling easy transfers between 19 French cities and Brussels.

The airline operates one of the most modern fleets in the Indian Ocean, comprising:

• Two Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners configured in dual class for long-haul services

• Three Boeing 777-300ERs for triple-class long-haul operations

• Three Airbus A220 aircraft for regional routes

Renowned for its warm hospitality and in-flight comfort, Air Austral has built a strong reputation for service quality. The airline has been awarded the “Efficience” CSR label by the cluster Green initiative with AFNOR/RUNCERT support, underscoring its commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable aviation practices.

Airlink stands as Southern Africa's largest privately owned regional airline, offering an extensive network that includes over 45 destinations across 14 African nations and St. Helena Island. Headquartered in Johannesburg, Airlink is celebrated for its dependability, timeliness, and uniform service quality. The airline links major South African cities with regional capitals and smaller markets, significantly contributing to commerce and tourism throughout the continent.

The collaboration between Airlink and Air Austral reflects a growing trend among regional carriers to form strategic partnerships that improve efficiency and enhance connectivity. By combining their strengths, Airlink’s vast Southern African network and Air Austral’s reach across the Indian Ocean, the two airlines are positioning themselves as key enablers of regional integration and mobility. As both carriers continue to pursue sustainability and operational excellence, this SPA is likely to serve as a foundation for deeper cooperation in the future, potentially including codeshare agreements or joint marketing initiatives.

For travellers, the benefits are immediate: more destinations, smoother journeys, and expanded opportunities to explore the diverse landscapes, cultures, and economies of Africa and the Indian Ocean region.