Air Austral announces in a press release a new system for the Mahorais, to take into account family emergencies. Ticket prices will be capped towards Reunion or Paris for relatives of a hospitalized patient.
Publicity stunt or boost? the Air Austral company announces the implementation of a new system for family emergencies in Mahorais, “due to lack of medical and hospital infrastructure” in the territory. Prices will be capped and processing fees free for relatives of a parent hospitalized in Reunion or France. At any time, return tickets are capped at 466 euros around Reunion and 1095 euros to Paris.
The patient's spouses, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and children are affected. To do this, they must provide proof of address, a hospitalization certificate and a copy of the family record book proving the relationship. The company also offers special “bereaved families” rates for Mahorais, with ticket prices aligned with the lowest in the price list, excluding promotions, i.e. 360 euros between Mayotte and Reunion and 914 euros between Mayotte and Paris.
“My mother went to Reunion to get treatment, we wanted to go with her, but the tickets are too expensive compared to before“, explains Aron who judges that this device is “a good idea.“For the president of the CHM users’ commission, the airline could have gone further.”It's good to think of the families of patients and the deceased, but the amounts offered remain exorbitant, they could have fallen even more when we see the prices over certain periods“, estimates Dhoimrati Mtrengoueni. “Who has 400 or 1,000 euros on hand to leave in an emergency? The person who is grieving or accompanying a patient must have the opportunity to come and go.“
Some see it as a communication stunt by Air Austral, which has been widely criticized for the prices applied to Mayotte where it has a virtual monopoly on daily connections with France. In September, several protests were organized and a call was made to boycott the airline. “This is not what we asked for, we wanted price alignment with Reunion Island“, complains Sylviane Amavie, member of the collective of citizens of Mayotte 2018 at the origin of this mobilization. “It's advertising, we are still calling not to buy anything from Air Austral until we win our case.”
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