PORT-LOUIS/DUBAI: Emirates has celebrated the tenth anniversary of its daily A380 service to Mauritius. At the time of the launch of the service in 2013, the island was the first A380 destination in Africa.
Following a special one-off A380 flight which the airline operated in March 2013 in celebration of Mauritius’ 45 years of independence, Emirates’ flight EK 701 landed at SSR International Airport on 16 December with over 500 passengers onboard, marking the start of the new daily A380 service.
During the span of ten years, Emirates operated almost 12,000 flights to and from the exotic island destination, carrying more than five million passengers on the world’s largest commercial aircraft equipped with Emirates’ signature inflight products and services. Within one year of its launch and following popular demand, the Emirates’ A380 operations ramped up to a double-daily service in 2014, increasing the seat capacity on the route and creating major opportunities for the island’s burgeoning tourism industry.
Since 2002, when the route was launched utilising a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, Emirates has been steadfastly committed to Mauritius and its partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority to support the island’s economy and tourism agenda. As a result of joint efforts that increased demand on the route, capacity was increased in 2013 by upgrading to the double-decker aircraft.
Additionally, Emirates’ winning codeshare partnership with Air Mauritius, one of the longest in in Emirates’ history, has supported the country’s tourism objectives by providing each airline’s customers with enhanced access to services.
Oomar Ramtoola, Emirates’ Manager for the Indian Ocean Islands stated: “Emirates’ A380 services to Mauritius have been a resounding success since the launch a decade ago and our double-daily operation has been a catalyst for the growth of the local tourism industry. This frequency, paired with the signature services provided by Emirates’ flagship aircraft, have added to the appeal of traveling to the destination and resulted in tangible benefits throughout the supply chain in the hospitality and tourism industry while creating jobs. We are proud to have written an important chapter in the aviation history of the island in such an impactful manner.
He added: “We seize this opportunity to thank the authorities for all the support extended to Emirates since 2002. I also would like to thank the management of Air Mauritius, our codeshare partner on the Dubai-Mauritius route, for the successful relationship we continue to share.”
Honorable Steven Obeegadoo, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, said: “The deployment of the Emirates Airbus A380 aircraft on the Mauritius route ten years ago was a major step for Mauritius, which then joined the few destinations served by the flagship aircraft. The Emirates A380 has set new levels of comfort and service in the air and, ten years after its first flight, remains a benchmark in the industry. Mauritius is therefore delighted to celebrate these ten years of operations with Emirates and we look forward to our continued strong partnership in the years ahead.”
Top destinations and feeder markets for inbound and outbound travel relevant for Mauritius include points in France, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Russia, Austria, Italy and Middle East countries.
Passengers from Mauritius have grown to love the Emirates A380 for its spacious and comfortable cabins, signature products that offer travellers enjoy, the best experiences in the sky such as the Onboard Lounge, in addition to an award-winning inflight entertainment system that includes more than 6,500 channels of on-demand entertainment.
Mauritian travellers now have access to the airline’s meal preordering service which allows passengers in Business Class to preselect their main course between 14 days and 24 hours in advance of their flight departure, ensuring they get their preferred choice every time as well as helping to reduce food wastage. BIZ TODAY MONITORING
