Air Austral wet-leases two ASL Airlines 737-800s to bridge fleet gap

Air Austral has signed an ACMI charter agreement with ASL Airlines France covering operations from 11 November 2026 to 27 March 2027. A 186-seat Boeing 737-800 will enter service in November, joined by a second aircraft of matching capacity during the December and January peak period. Flight crews will be supplied by ASL Airlines France, while cabin personnel will be provided by Air Austral.

The wet-lease arrangement ensures schedule integrity on regional services from Réunion, including routes toward Mayotte and nearby Indian Ocean destinations. This bridge capacity addresses the early phase-out of the carrier's three 132-seat Airbus A220-300s, driven by availability challenges with Pratt & Whitney powerplants. One A220 departed in September, and the remaining two leave in December 2026. Two 180-seat Airbus A320neos, leased from Macquarie AirFinance, are scheduled to arrive in March and May 2027 to replace them permanently.