2024-04-04 07:05:39
Since the start of 2024, the airlines of the Indian Ocean islands have been, one following the other, threatened with disappearance. In Madagascar, the Comoros, Mauritius and Reunion, the air transport market is going through turbulence which might be fatal.
On Wednesday April 3, 2024, the shareholders of Air Austral, a Reunion airline, agreed to support the Réunion Region and pay 50% of the 10 million euros necessary for the survival of the carrier, but under conditions. They demand a reduction in the payroll.
Furthermore, the managers of the local company will have to present a global restructuring plan at the end of April.
Union representatives, who want to preserve the employment of ground and flight staff, pointed the finger at the salaries of the company’s executives, as revealed on Wednesday evening on the Réunion la 1ère website.
Restructuring also for Madagascar Airlines
The airline, which succeeded Air Madagascar and Tsaradia, is trying to implement its plan: “Pheonix 2030”. The project put together by Thierry de Bailleul, the General Director, focuses on the internal service of the Big Island. No more long-haul aircraft, the fleet will be made up of four ATR 72-500s.
Here once more, this upheaval should lead to a significant reduction in staff numbers. Managers are counting on 400 departures. To encourage agents with more than 25 years of service to retire, the company would offer 3 months of salary and unlimited discounted tickets.
Will the sister island’s red and white fleet survive this new turbulence?
For five years, Air Mauritius has been in great difficulty. In April 2020, following 51 years of service, the company was placed in receivership.
Finally, thanks to a government loan of $279 million, the carrier resumed its international services and undertook several projects for the future.
Air Mauritus’ legitimate enthusiasm was quickly dampened.
These economic difficulties, linked to international tensions, have caused several internal conflicts. This week, Amba Manikham, appointed on March 13, 2024, director of international ground services, was dismissed, as we learn L’Express de Maurice.
In the Comoros, the situation for companies is slightly different. Since the beginning of the year, the planes of Int’AIR Îles and AB Aviation have ceased their activity, due to lack of planes. R’Komor, victim of several serious incidents during landing and takeoff, was forced to stop operating its Fokker 50.
The civil aviation of the archipelago was forced to suspend the flight authorizations of the aircraft, which suffered three punctures on landing and a failure on one of its two engines on takeoff and this in less of one year, confirms Mayotte-Hebdo.
It is in this very particular situation that Royal Air arrives. The new inter-island carrier relies on three Let 410s from Sudan. Management is awaiting operating authorizations for its aircraft.
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