R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, FEB 27
The Air Mauritius, national carrier of the neighbouring island has announced on Monday that it is embarking on launching the weekly direct air connectivity from Chennai-Mauritius-Chennai, a day before the auspicious Tamil New Year i.e. on April 13, 2024.
As the island nation is bouncing back to normal after the pandemic amid Maldives row, the Air Mauritius to operate direct air service on every Saturday from Chennai and Fridays’ from Mauritius, said Sixtine Marot, Head of Sales, Marketing, Commercial, Air Mauritius here on Monday.
Addressing media on the sidelines of the travel agents meet, she said, “The air carrier will operate an Airbus A330 aircraft 254 seater which includes 24 Business Class seats and the rest are economic class.’’
Each flight will offer a seamless journey with the duration of 5 hours 45 Minutes from Chennai International Airport, India to SSR International Airport, Mauritius.
From 12th April 2024 every week on Friday flight MK746 will depart from Mauritius at 6:30 pm and arrive Chennai at 1:50 am. Likewise, every Saturday from April 13, 2024, flight MK747 will depart from Chennai at 3:35 am and reach Mauritius at 7:50 am.
Air Mauritius currently operates 9 flights per week, including six weekly flights from Mumbai and thrice a weekly from Delhi, she added.
Arvind Bundhun, Director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) said, “Resuming direct flight service from Chennai to Mauritius is a significant step forward in facilitating travel for visitors, including students, people for medical treatments and trade from Southern India. We extend our sincere gratitude to Air Mauritius for spearheading this initiative, which not only serves to meet the growing demand for seamless travel experiences but also fosters stronger ties and greater connectivity between our two nations. This renewed connection opens doors to endless possibilities, inviting travelers to explore the unparalleled beauty and hospitality of Mauritius like never before.”
When asked about the tourist inflow from India, he said the number of tourists from India to increase to pre-Covid level of about 80,000 units, up from 54,000 in 2023 and the Mauritius target to attract about one lakh tourists from India by the end of 2025.
He further said that the length of the tourists visiting Mauritius has also increased from 9 nights to 11 nights after the pandemic.
Aravindan also said that the number of hotel rooms will be increased to 15,400 by adding another 2500 new rooms by the end of this year.
Laurent Recoura, Officer in Charge of Air Mauritius stated that, “We are pleased to restart our operations from Chennai after four years of absence. Mauritius and India share a special relationship that is built on the foundation of people-to-people ties. With its idyllic sandy beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters and thriving marine life, visitors can expect to relish in Mauritius’ natural wonders, as well as its rich cultural heritage, which reflects its history and deep-rooted cultural ties with India. Both countries are united by ancestry, language and geography.”
Haymandoyal Dillum, Mauritius High Commissioner to India was also present during the media interaction.
The Republic of Mauritius is a beautiful island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent, right in the middle of the Indian Ocean, renowned for its pristine white sandy beaches and mesmerizing turquoise waters, its verdant mountains as well as its protected UNESCO World Heritage sites, among others.
Mauritius is a melting pot of cultures with its population originating from Europe, India, Africa and China. It is also renowned for its legendary warm hospitality and diverse cuisine
