Air AustralUU

Air Austral is the flag carrier of Reunion, a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean. Founded in 1975, the airline is headquartered in Saint-Denis, Reunion, and operates from its primary hub at Roland Garros Airport (RUN). The airline plays a vital role in connecting Reunion to mainland France and regional Indian Ocean destinations.

As a French carrier operating under EU regulations, Air Austral maintains European safety and service standards while offering French-inspired cuisine and hospitality. The airline operates a modern mixed fleet including Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft for long-haul routes, plus ATR 72 turboprops for regional services. Air Austral is not a member of any global airline alliance but operates codeshare agreements with Air France.

With approximately 1.5 million passengers annually, Air Austral is the dominant carrier for the Reunion-Paris route and serves as the primary air link between Reunion and neighboring islands including Mauritius, Madagascar, Mayotte, and the Comoros.

Carry-On Allowance

Air Austral allows generous carry-on baggage across all fare classes.

Personal Item (all fares):

• Dimensions: 40 x 30 x 15 cm (16 x 12 x 6 in)
• Must fit under seat

Cabin Bag (all fares):

• Dimensions: 55 x 35 x 25 cm (22 x 14 x 10 in)
• Weight: 8 kg (18 lbs) Economy / 12 kg (26 lbs) Business

Fare Class	Personal Item	Cabin Bag	Weight Limit
Economy	✓	✓	8 kg combined
Confort	✓	✓	8 kg combined
Business	✓	✓	12 kg combined

Checked Baggage

Air Austral uses a generous weight concept, particularly on long-haul routes between Reunion and France.

Long-Haul (Reunion-France, Reunion-Bangkok):

Fare Class	Bags Included	Weight
Economy	1	23 kg (50 lbs)
Confort	2	23 kg each
Business	2	32 kg (70 lbs) each

Regional (Indian Ocean Routes):

Fare Class	Bags Included	Weight
Economy	1	23 kg (50 lbs)
Business	2	32 kg (70 lbs) each

Size Limit: 158 cm (62 in) total dimensions per bag

Overweight Fees

Condition	Fee
Overweight (24-32 kg)	EUR 50 (~$55) per bag
Additional bag	EUR 50-100 (~$55-110) depending on route

Special Items

Item	Fee	Notes
Surfboard	EUR 50	Popular for Reunion's world-class surf
Golf clubs	Standard bag fee	Counts as 1 bag
Bicycle	EUR 75	Must be boxed
Car seat	Free	Gate-check available
Stroller	Free	Gate-check available
Dive equipment	Standard bag fee	Common for Indian Ocean travelers

Fees as of January 2025. Verify at air-austral.com/baggage.

Seat Specifications

Class	Aircraft	Pitch	Width	Features
Classe Club	B787-8	60" (152 cm)	21" (53 cm)	Lie-flat bed, direct aisle access
Classe Club	B777-300ER	58" (147 cm)	21" (53 cm)	Lie-flat, 180-degree recline
Confort	B787-8	36" (91 cm)	18" (46 cm)	Extra legroom, recline
Economy	B787-8	32" (81 cm)	17.5" (44 cm)	Standard
Economy	B777-300ER	32" (81 cm)	17" (43 cm)	Standard
Economy	ATR 72	30" (76 cm)	17" (43 cm)	Regional configuration

Entertainment

Long-Haul (787/777):

• Personal seatback touchscreens
• Movies, TV series, music
• Content in French & English
• USB charging at seats
• AC power outlets (Business/Confort)

Regional (ATR 72):

• No seatback screens
• Short flight duration (30-60 minutes typical)

Meals & Beverages

Classe Club (Business):

• Multi-course French-inspired menus
• Champagne and premium wine selection
• Reunion-inspired dishes featuring local flavors
• On-demand dining

Confort:

• Enhanced meal service
• Pre-departure beverage
• Complimentary wine and spirits

Economy (Long-Haul):

• Hot meals included
• Complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks
• French cuisine with Creole influences
• Special meals available (pre-order 48 hours)

Regional:

• Light snack and beverage service

WiFi

WiFi availability varies by aircraft. Check with Air Austral for current availability and pricing on specific routes.

Booking:

• Book Paris-Reunion directly on air-austral.com for best prices
• Compare with Air France for alternate routing
• Confort class offers good value for 11-hour flights to Paris
• Peak season (July-August, December holidays) requires early booking

At the Airport:

• RUN airport is small and efficient
• CDG Terminal 3 or ORY South depending on schedule
• Allow extra connection time at CDG if connecting to other Air France flights

Best Value:

• Regional flights (Mauritius, Madagascar) are competitively priced
• Multi-island itineraries can offer savings
• Check for package deals including accommodation

Local Tips:

• Flights to Paris depart evening, arrive morning (overnight flight)
• Return flights depart morning from Paris
• Consider Marseille as alternative to Paris - shorter flight, often cheaper
• Bangkok seasonal route offers alternative beach destination

Common Issues:

• Limited frequency means rebooking options are constrained
• French language dominates - basic French helpful
• Reunion experiences cyclone season December-April
• Connecting flights at CDG require terminal transfer

Reunion Island Specifics:

• Euro (EUR) is the currency
• French is the official language
• Reunion is EU territory - no customs between Reunion and France
• Time zone: UTC+4 (no daylight saving)

Surfing:

• Pre-book surfboard baggage allowance
• Reunion's west coast has world-class waves
• Saint-Leu and Saint-Gilles popular surf spots