Beachcomber - Luxury holiday specialists to the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius, the Seychelles, Reunion and Africa

The inaugural flight of the French Airline, Air Austral, was celebrated at a stately function at Guillaume at Bennelong restaurant at the Sydney Opera House on the 19th of April.

Air Austral CEO, Mr Gérard Etheve, in a speech translated for the non-French speakers by Mr Jean-Marc Grazzini, outlined the airlines history, along with plans for the future.

Mr Etheve is totally involved in all aspects of the airline and participates in such things as selecting menus, wines, crew uniforms, and even the interior decor and seating style on board, in all classes.

This hands on approach ensures that Air Austral remains up to date and is relevant to the expectations of today’s travellers.

Air Austral was formed as Réunion Air Services in 1974. In 1990 it was renamed as Air Austral and was a major regional airline in the Indian Ocean region. Long haul services began in 2003 with flights to Paris.

Air Austral operates Boeing 737s and ATR72s on its short and medial haul routes and utilises the latest Boeing 777s, in a three class configuration (Club Austral - Business, Confort - Premium Economy, and Loisirs – economy, on long haul routes, including Australia. Two new Boeing 777-300s have been ordered and will begin on the Australian route in 2010.

The airline travels from Australia via Reunion Island – stunning part of France in the Indian Ocean - to service the nearby islands of Mauritius, Seychelles, Commores and Madagascar. Flights from Reunion to Johannesburg, South Africa are twice weekly and there are daily flights to Paris, and a number of flights each day to Mauritius.

Flights depart twice weekly from Sydney and are time friendly, leaving around lunch time each day:

Beachcomber Tours and Air Austral have already cemented a strong relationship with the airline now forging ahead as the main link from the east coast of Australia to Mauritius, home of eight of Beachcomber’s luxury hotels.

For specials to Mauritius, Reunion, Seychelles or South Africa click here.

For more information on each destination please click on the highlighted country above.

Linda Christie ( Naiade Resorts), Jean Unsworth (Beachcomber Tours Sydney), Greg Wrenn (MTPA Australia), Steve Douglas (Fiesta Holidays)

Rod Eather ( Managing Director Beachcomber Tours), David Rivers (General Manager Harvey World Travel), Jean Unsworth (Beachcomber Tours Sydney)

Francis Ong Seng (Air Austral Manager for Australia) watched by air cabin crew.

Air Austral CEO Mr Gérard Etheve stands by as Mr Lionel Majeste-Larrouy (The French Consul-General in Australia) welcomes guests to the launch.

Guillaume at Bennelong Restaurant - Sydney Opera House