Air Mauritius... it's like floating on air

We have flown Air Mauritius a number of times and it's our carrier of choice to get from temperate Cape Town to tropical Mauritius.

The airline has selected A350-900s to replace its fleet of A340-300 aircraft.

But first a little story... My better half and I have a cunning plan when it comes to flying - if we cannot get a two-seater, that is. She likes an aisle seat, while I like the window. As it happens, the Airbus 319 we were going on has a three-seat plan so what we do then is book a window and an aisle with the seat between us - we hope - remaining unoccupied.

Generally the cunning plan has worked, as it did this time, though there was a little glitch...

The "boss" pre-booked our seats online and the plan was going swimmingly right up to the moment we checked in. My seat (window) was where we'd booked. Her aisle seat shifted a few rows forward.

Anyone would think whomever made the change had heard our little disagreement the night before. Well, it wasn't that loud.

Air Mauritius staff sorted this glitch out in a flash. After that, we ambled off to the Air Mauritius kiosk and the man in charge sorted out our return flight on the same basis - together in the same row, but empty in the middle.

You can elect to fly business class...

As with every flight we have had with Air Mauritius, the food was good and the service very good. Just bear in mind, however, that the 319 has the 'drop-down' video screens so you don't get to choose what you want to watch. I suggest taking along a good book to while away the around 5-6 hours flight time for if the entertainment is not to your liking - or perhaps something I have written if you want to sleep during the flight.

And then for the return journey...

The new passenger terminal at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International rivals anything we have here in SA post the 2010 World Cup, so we were impressed.

Then we checked in...

Same thing... the seats the kind gent had pre-booked for us just before we flew out of Cape Town, had been changed... again - this time both of them, and miles apart! More negotiating followed to get our pre-booked seats back but it ended up with smiles all round. The Air Mauritius staff was most obliging - and understanding - and told us we were not the only folk who do this.

I must say, however, that when we do have to sit in a three-seater we take a more than passing interest in how many passengers are boarding and begin praying for the call "Cabin crew lock doors and crosscheck" before someone settles in between us.

Then we smile. Or not.

A 57% increase in seat capacity planned for Financial Year 2014/15.

This time however, again, we did smile - the empty seat between us is so useful for odds and ends, and the extra tray table is a boon as well.

All in all, barring the somewhat strange rearrangement of our bookings out and back, Air Mauritius is hard to beat when it comes to service and food.

Just a little aside... we have flown on a number of airlines and one thing that counts is ... clean loos - and in that area, the airline does very well. It's might not sound very important, but believe me... it is.

And just one more... we've sometimes had a cabin crew chattering away quite loudly, not on this airline. Again, it might not seem important, but when you're trying to get a bit of shuteye on a long trip, silence (barring the sound of the engines) is rather nice.

More about Air Mauritius

The airline is the national carrier of the Republic of Mauritius and was created in 1967. Its current fleet comprises four A340-300s, two A340-300Es, two A330-200s, two A319-100s and two ATR72-500s, but it announced this month (July) that it has selected A350-900s to replace its fleet of A340-300 aircraft.

It made the announcement at the Farnborough International Airshow. This major decision is Step 5 of the 7-Step Recovery and Sustainability plan to re-fleet the national carrier. The A350-900 will offer enhanced passenger experience and comfort, operating cost efficiency and technological innovation.

Economy class is the option most travellers select, but the comfort and service are comparable with the best economy class standards on other airlines.

The re-fleeting exercise will take place in a phased manner. The first two A350-900 planes will be delivered in 2017 through operating leases from AerCap Holdings and the remaining four will be purchased from Airbus, with two aircraft to be delivered in 2019 and the remaining two in 2020. Air Mauritius has also reserved its right to exercise an option to place additional orders of up to three A350 between 2023 and 2025 on the same terms and conditions that led to the selection of the first four aircraft with Airbus.

"This landmark decision follows a rigorous and transparent evaluation and selection process. These new acquisitions will allow the airline to offer a very attractive product with state of the art seats and in-flight entertainment facilities to meet the expectations of our passengers," commented Dass Thomas, Chair of Air Mauritius. For Andre Viljoen, Chief Executive Officer, "These fuel-efficient A350-900s are key to modernising our fleet and will significantly reduce operational costs. This aircraft is the game changer we were looking for to improve our products and competitiveness. The A350-900 will enable our customers to enjoy significantly improved comfort levels."

This historical decision follows a series of recent achievements by Air Mauritius, namely, returning to profitability in 2013/2014, achieving 4-STAR Skytrax rating and being voted the leading airline in the Indian Ocean at the World Travel Awards for nine consecutive years.

New flights announced

Air Mauritius will operate two additional flights to mainland China in 2014. A third weekly frequency to Shanghai was launched in January 2014 and a second frequency to Beijing was inaugurated on 16 July. The company has stepped up operations to China as part of its new operating model, which aims at rebalancing growth to emerging markets.

The aim is to have a minimum of 10 weekly flights to China in 2014. Air Mauritius started a once-weekly flight to Shanghai in 2011, three direct flights to mainland China in 2013 and by mid-2014 is now operating five direct weekly flights to mainland China. This is in addition to a minimum of twice-weekly flights to Hong Kong and the three flights a week to Kuala Lumpur from where passengers can connect to destinations in China.

The airline will thus be offering customers 10 flights a week to this fast-growing region as well.

Fine fare.

A 57% increase in seat capacity planned for Financial Year 2014/15. The addition of capacity on China has significantly stimulated demand. During Financial Year 2013/14, Air Mauritius provided more than 93,000 seats and in 2014/15, this figure will be increased to an estimated 146,000, representing a 57% increase.

Supporting the country strategy

"Our network strategy is paying off. We are glad to note that with the development of our operations to China, Air Mauritius is investing in an important market both for the future of the company and for Mauritius. Our strategy to re-balance growth to high potential destinations initiated as from 2012 supports the country strategy and is gradually compensating for the economically challenged traditional markets. We are pleased to note that tourist arrivals from China have increased from 20,900 in 2012 to nearly 42,000 in 2013. Air Mauritius will continue to monitor the potential of these markets and act accordingly," says Viljoen.

Air Mauritius - the SA connection

• 9X Weekly Johannesburg flights:
Air Mauritius operates 9X weekly day flights out of Johannesburg.

New Air Mauritius Flight Schedule:

• Air Mauritius launched a new flight schedule on 6 July 2014
• The new earlier flights from JHB on a Saturday and Sunday morning ensure that holidaymakers can enjoy additional time on the island ~ and land timeously to enjoy sundowners on the beach, on the day of their arrival
• Not only that, the later flights back to JHB on a Friday and Saturday afternoon offer almost an entire additional day to holidaymakers.

Air Mauritius flies to Rodrigues, part of the Mauritian group of islands, where these fish were photographed and - here's a piece of useless information for you... The furthest West that the explosion of Krakatoa was heard when the volcano, off the coast of Java, blew up on 27 August 1883. Rodrigues is nearly 4,500km from Krakatoa, by the way - so it was a rather a loud bang.

• Increased frequencies direct from Cape Town to Mauritius:
o As from 28 October, 2012, Cape Town flights' capacity was boosted with three flights direct to Mauritius, return, per week

• Network connectivity:
o Also effective as of 28 October, 2012, Air Mauritius offers network connectivity within six hours to all destinations, beyond Mauritius
o These include highly competitive rates offered via international routes inclusive of: Australia, Malaysia; Singapore; London; Paris, India; China, Reunion, Kenya, Madagascar and more

• Re-introduction of Durban route: ***
o Effective 5 July 2013: Two weekly flights to Mauritius, return, were re-introduced, due to customer and key industry stakeholder demand

• Inauguration of SSR International Airport, Plaisance:
o The new passenger terminal at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport was inaugurated in an official ceremony on 30 August, 2013
o This new facility, with a total area of 57,000m², will cater for up to 4.5 million passengers a year, thus doubling the capacity of the country's international airport
o The new terminal will support the country more effectively in being the only tourist gateway, connecting Mauritius with the rest of the world
o Inspired by the Ravenala Madagascariensis, commonly known as the traveller's tree, this industrial facility was developed to meet stringent environmental standards
o The project has taken three years to complete with investment amounting to $305m by the Government of Mauritius, together with the backing of the China Exim Bank

For more information, go to: www.airmauritius.com or www.smarttravel.co.za or call +27 (0)87 151 1848.

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