JOHANNESBURG, October 2025 – Air Austral and Airlink have announced the signing of a bilateral Special Prorate Agreement (SPA), effective 15 October 2025, expanding their respective networks and enhancing connectivity between Réunion Island, South Africa, and the broader Southern African region.
Under the agreement, Air Austral passengers will gain access to Airlink’s network of 45 destinations across South Africa and neighbouring countries via Johannesburg, where Air Austral operates direct flights from Réunion. The partnership enables seamless travel on a single ticket, with through check-in and baggage transfer to the final destination. This opens convenient connections from Réunion to major cities such as Cape Town, Durban, Windhoek, Gaborone, Lusaka, and Victoria Falls.
Conversely, Airlink passengers will benefit from greater access to destinations served by Air Austral, including Mauritius, Madagascar, Mayotte, the Comoros Islands, and the Seychelles—also under a single, integrated ticketing system.
“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,” said Hugues Marchessaux, CEO of Air Austral.
Airlink CEO de Villiers Engelbrecht added: “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 agreement is set to boost regional tourism and economic activity by improving air links between Réunion Island and Southern Africa, further establishing both carriers as key players in inter-regional connectivity.
About Air Austral
Based in Réunion Island, Air Austral is a leading French airline serving key routes across the Indian Ocean and beyond. The airline operates a modern fleet of two Boeing 787-8s, three Boeing 777-300s, and three Airbus A220s, offering connections between mainland France, the Indian Ocean islands, and regional destinations. Renowned for its service quality and sustainable practices, Air Austral holds the Green “Efficience” CSR label awarded by AFNOR/RUNCERT.
About Airlink
Founded in 1992, Airlink is Southern Africa’s largest privately-owned regional airline, operating over 65 modern jetliners to destinations across the region, as well as to Madagascar and St Helena Island. The airline partners with 11 international codeshare carriers and operates the FlyNamibia franchise. Airlink is an IATA member, IOSA-accredited, and certified through the IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) programme.
SOURCE AND IMAGE: AIRLINK
