The new Air Mauritius A350-900 operates its first commercial flight

The first A350-900 of Air Mauritius ‘Le Morne Brabant’ operated its first commercial flight on Tuesday to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. The flight took off on Monday at 20H40 local time from SSR International Airport, Mauritius, with a delegation led by the Minister of Tourism, Honourable Anil Kumar Gayan.

It landed at 07H49 in Singapore. The delegation also comprised Air Mauritius officials, including Chairman Dr Arjoon Suddhoo, senior government officials and members of the press. The delivery of the A350-900 last Friday, 20 October 2017, marks the start of a fleet modernisation program, with eight new aircraft (six A350-900 and two A330neo) due to be delivered to Air Mauritius during the next five years.

The Airbus A350-900, which will be the new flagship aircraft of Air Mauritius, is a latest generation aircraft equipped with best in class cabin products, namely full flat seats in business class, a roomier and more comfortable economy class cabin, a state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system with full HD screen and in-flight connectivity in all classes.

The aircraft is also equipped with a number of special features including a quieter cabin, an array of mood lighting options and a lower cabin altitude that all contribute to enhancing travel experience and reducing jetlag. A second A350-900 will be delivered by the end of the year. Initially, the first two A350-900 will operate mainly on the Paris and Johannesburg routes.

New A350-900 aircraft marks new landmark in air connectivity

Air Mauritius marked a new era in the future of air connectivity with the acquisition of the brand new aircraft A350-900 ‘Le Morne Brabant’. The new aircraft landed at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport at Plaisance on 20 October 2017. The Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, and other eminent personalities were present at the airport on this occasion.

Air Mauritius’ new asset fits in the vision of the Government to modernize the existing airbus fleet and transform Mauritius into a regional aviation hub. It has been delivered in the context of the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Air Mauritius and as well as the 50 years of independence of the Republic of Mauritius.

The new A350-900 is one among eight aircraft that have been purchased from Airbus with the delivery of two brand new A350s this year, two A330neo in 2018, two A350 in 2019 and two more in 2023.

In his address Prime Minister Jugnauth commended Air Mauritius for this laudable initiative and expressed confidence that the national airline will take up the challenges that lie ahead and contribute in the endeavor to move Mauritius to the next level of economic growth and position itself as a bridge between the country and the world.

He stressed on the importance of connectivity which he underlined is an essential engine of economic growth for island states like ours and for countries which, like us, are far away from their main markets. He further announced the transformation of Air Mauritius medium and long haul fleet by 2019, which will make the national airline more competitive, as the A350-900 and the A330neo are both equipped with the latest best-in-class cabin amenities.

The Prime Minister also appealed to the national airline to focus on building its short haul fleet as regional connectivity is crucial to the country’s economic plans and underpinned the significance of travel and trade industry as an important pillar of the country’s economy.

According to him, a robust national airline is therefore of fundamental importance for Mauritius as aviation supports tourism, a sector which in turn generates around 70,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs, and accounts for an estimated 17.9% of GDP.

Mr Jugnauth dwelt on the acquisition of the new Airbus fleet which, he said, will become an engine of rapid growth with non-stop operations being the leitmotiv of Air Mauritius’s, and the source of its competitive advantage, as the Air Mauritius network evolves across 36 destinations.

Moreover, he called on the national airline to be ready to embrace modernisation and to always strive to remain competitive, as our cultural and economic ties with Africa and Asia, coupled with our geographical position between the two continents, place Mauritius as an ideal position to be a conduit for travel and trade.

As for the Chairman of Air Mauritius, Mr Arjoon Suddhoo, he highlighted that the acquisition of the new airbus testifies the growth and modernisation of the national airline, which marks a new chapter in air connectivity. He further underscored that as a national carrier, Air Mauritius will always thrive for excellence in service delivery with the synergy of all its stakeholders.