Air Mauritius

Air Mauritius is the flag carrier airline of Mauritius, having been founded in 1967 and commencing flight operations in 1972. The airline provides scheduled passenger transport and air cargo services under the IATA designator MK and the ICAO code MAU. Its primary hub is Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, located near Plaine Magnien, from which it operates a network that reaches destinations in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Indian Ocean region. Air Mauritius offers both economy and business class cabins on its flights and runs a frequent flyer programme known as Kestrelflyer for loyal customers. The carrier’s fleet consists mainly of Airbus aircraft such as the A330‑200, the A340‑300 and the A350‑900, which enable it to serve both long‑haul intercontinental routes and shorter regional sectors. In addition to passenger services, the airline transports freight and mail, utilizing the belly capacity of its aircraft for cargo operations. Air Mauritius employs a diverse workforce of pilots, cabin crew, engineers, ground staff and administrative personnel, all based in Mauritius.

Air Mauritius holds an Air Operator's Certificate issued by the Mauritius Civil Aviation Authority, which authorises it to conduct commercial air transport within and beyond the country’s airspace. The airline is wholly owned by the Government of Mauritius, reinforcing its role as the nation’s flag carrier and its alignment with national tourism and trade objectives. It is a member of the African Airlines Association and participates in the IATA Operational Safety Audit programme, reflecting its commitment to internationally recognised safety standards. Air Mauritius places emphasis on service quality and operational reliability, attributes that were evident during the cyber incident of 14 February 2022 when a malicious attack temporarily disabled its IT systems and required staff to revert to manual processes for ticket verification, flight load management and crew scheduling. Normal operations were restored the following day after a full server reboot and the use of alternative communication networks. This episode highlights the airline’s dependence on secure information technology for maintaining flight schedules, customer service and overall operational resilience.