Air Austral to Retire A220 Fleet Over Engine Reliability Concerns
Air Austral, an airline located on the island of La Réunion in the Indian Ocean, is set to transition away from its Airbus A220 fleet. This move comes in response to ongoing reliability issues associated with the Pratt & Whitney GTF engines affecting at least two of the three A220s in their possession.
This airline made history as the first operator of the A220 in the Indian Ocean, having received its first unit in July 2021. The A220s were used primarily for short and medium-haul routes, connecting Roland Garros International Airport (RUN) in La Réunion to various destinations, including Madagascar, Mauritius, and South Africa. In addition, Air Austral operates five widebody aircraft, comprising three Boeing 777-300ERs and two Boeing 787-8s, for long-haul flights to mainland France and Asia.
As of September 25, 2025, data reveals that two of the three A220s in Air Austral’s fleet are currently inactive. One aircraft, with the registration F-OMER, is marked as stored, while F-OTER is undergoing maintenance.
Challenges Linked to the Global GTF Engine
A number of A220 operators have faced persistent technical issues with GTF engines, which have hindered their operations significantly. airBaltic, the largest single-type A220 operator, experienced substantial disruptions, leading to 4,670 flight cancellations during the 2025 summer season due to these reliability problems. Such issues have had a profound impact on the airline’s overall performance, contributing to the exit of former CEO Martin Gauss.
Similarly, Egyptair decided to divest its entire A220 fleet, consisting of 12 aircraft, selling them to leasing company Azorra in early 2024. SWISS is another airline reportedly looking to replace its A220s after experiencing long-term groundings due to ongoing GTF engine complications.
While specifics regarding Air Austral’s strategy for disposing of its A220 fleet remain unclear, reports suggest the airline is considering alternatives, including aircraft from the A320neo family or Boeing 737 MAX models.
AeroTime has sought comments from Air Austral regarding this transition.
What are your thoughts on Air Austral’s decision to replace its A220 fleet?
