Air Austral next week launches a twice-weekly service between Sydney and Paris via Reunion Island.

It will use wide-bodied Boeing 777 aircraft in three full-service classes: Club Austral (business), Confort Class (premium economy) and Loisirs Class (economy).

To mark the new service, the airline has extended its launch fares until June 30, valid for travel between April 14 and November 1.

To Reunion, the fares are $1554 (economy), $2605 (premium economy) and $4935 (business), while to Paris the rates are $2098, $4524 and $7396.

Deals are available onward to Lyon and Marseille, and the carrier also travels to Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles and Johannesburg.

In the southern Indian Ocean, Reunion, as part of France, is the only European region in the southern hemisphere.

Sydney Airport CEO Russell Balding sees the new service as good news for the tourism industry as it makes Sydney more accessible for the European market.

“Sydney’s International Terminal is undergoing a major upgrade and expansion,” says Balding. “This is a strategically important infrastructure investment as the airport is a major contributor to Sydney’s economic growth.”