Air Austral To Operate SYD with 777-300ER Next Feb

[Will H]

Starting in February Air Austral will operate its twice-weekly Reunion-Sydney-Noumea service with its B777-300ER.

The B777-300ER has a total capacity of 442 in a 3-class business, premium economy, and economy configuration. The business and premium seats and configuration are similar to that of V Australia. While Air Austral's -300ER economy has a tight 3-4-3 configuration it also has PTVs, which economy on its -200ER lacks.

Air Austral currently has approximately 60% load factors according to a company spokeswoman.

More here: http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/wi...th--300er.html

[Andrew M]

442 seats

[Will H]

Wait until they get their 840-seat A380s. right back at ya!

[Erik H. Bakke]

60% load factor, and then adding more capacity...
The 772ERs must be desperately needed elsewhere.

[Will H]

Well they're adding more sales staff so hopefully that will increase loads.

Another option is they want to boost the product. Their 772 is not nearly as nice as 77W. Granted, no competition, but word gets around quick when people are dissatisfied with IFE, or the lack thereof.

[Andrew M]

Yet United Airlines still gets good loads to Australia with their pathetic 744's.

They are also adding a 3rd SYD-LAX flight over the Dec/Jan period.

So IFE doesn't decide much, it's all about price!

[Will H]

Comparing the Australia-US market to the Australia-Reunion market is a case of the apples and oranges.

Beyond LAX on UA, there's all of the US, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, and Caribbean (and Europe and Africa if you're daring).

From Reunion you're looking at a handful of African destinations as well as France.

You can fly tans-Pac a number of times on UA and not run out of things to see once you arrive. For Reunion, you'll need incentives to go back.

[Erik H. Bakke]

Depends on your interests.
For example, I wouldn't need any other incentive than Piton de la Fournaise to go there, several times.
So the incentive can easily be just your interest in the place, which could be the situation for any destination.