AIR MAURITIUS SIGNS UP FOR 6 A350-900’S
(Posted 17th July 2014)
News from the Farnborough Air Show confirm that Air Mauritius put pen to paper with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus for the purchase of four and the lease of another two Airbus A350-900 XWB. The aircraft was on display at the Farnborough show in the livery of Qatar Airways, which will be the global launch customer when it takes delivery of the first such plane to enter commercial service late this year.
Powered by Rolls Royce Trent engines is the new aircraft, Airbus’ first to be built with new composite lightweight materials, expected to delivery unprecedented operating economics for airlines with higher payloads and longer ranges thrown in for good measure.
Air Mauritius has undergone substantial restructuring in recent years with loss making and marginal routes axed resulting in much improved financial results for the last financial year. The acquisition is aimed to replace the ageing Airbus A340 fleet of which Air Mauritius presently operates 6 while two A330-200’s and two A319-100’s will remain on the fleet serving both long and short haul destinations. Air Mauritius also operates two ATR72-500 aircraft for destinations to nearby islands.
Air Mauritius presently flies long haul to Perth in Australia with onward codeshared connections by Virgin Australia, to Singapore but also to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong in China. Air Mauritius also serves several destinations in India as well as flying to Paris and London. A number of African mainland destinations, including Nairobi, and several Indian Ocean islands are also served on a regular basis. Watch this space for breaking and regular aviation news from across Africa and the Indian Ocean islands.
