Air Corridor goes to Swaziland

Expanding air access between Mauritius and the Kingdom of Swaziland while promoting the economic and social development of both countries. This is the objective of a Memorandum of Understanding on Air Transport signed between the two countries this week at Treasury Building in Port Louis. On that occasion, a Bilateral Air Services Agreement between Mauritius and Swaziland was also initiated.

The agreement provides that airlines in each country will be able to operate up to seven flights per week between Mauritius and Swaziland. They may also operate all cargo services without restrictions in relation to frequency and capacity and with third, fourth and fifth freedoms traffic rights. Air Mauritius may also operate the fifth freedom rights at intermediate points and beyond on routes as specified in the Agreement.

The Mauritian side was led by the Solicitor General, D. K. Dabee, and part of Swaziland by the Director General of the Swaziland Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. Solomon Dube.

This agreement follows a visit in February 2016 by a delegation from the Kingdom of Swaziland to Mauritius. At a meeting, it was agreed that the existing Air Services Agreement between the two countries should be reviewed and modernized. In addition to the inaugural session of the African Economic Platform held last month in Mauritius, the issue of air connectivity between the two countries was raised by Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth and the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Swaziland, Dr Sibusiso B. Dlamini.

It should be noted that in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Royal Swazi National Airways operated direct flights between Mauritius and Swaziland. However, the airline terminated its flights to Mauritius in 1981. In the absence of direct flights between Mauritius and the Kingdom of Swaziland, passengers transit through Johannesburg. By 2016, tourist arrivals from the Kingdom of Swaziland amounted to 370.

Air services between Mauritius and Swaziland have so far been governed by a bilateral agreement on air services concluded in May 1977. This agreement provided, inter alia, for the sole designation of the airline and a weekly frequency to be operated by The designated airline of each country. Boost air traffic through the Air Corridor.