Despite Headwinds, Air Mauritius Achieves Landmark £4.3m Profit

The results, approved by the airline’s board on August 14, signal a significant turnaround despite considerable operational challenges. Air Mauritius has announced this landmark net profit of Rs 252.7 million (£4.3 million) for the first quarter of 2025/2026, marking its best performance in nine years.

The positive financial news comes after a turbulent period for the national carrier, which saw one of its A330-900 neo aircraft grounded for eight of the thirteen weeks in the quarter.

Additionally, 24 “Aircraft on Ground” (AOG) incidents led to significant maintenance costs and operational disruptions.

Despite these hurdles and heightened competition on several routes, passenger revenue rose from Rs 5.6 billion to Rs 6 billion.

The airline also saw a modest increase in passenger numbers, with 403,127 travellers carried during the quarter, up 0.8% from the 399,840 recorded in the same period in 2024. This led to a 4.7-point increase in the overall load factor.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, 15th August, Air Mauritius Chairman Kishore Beegoo hailed the “extraordinary turnaround” of Rs 864 million over six months.

He credited the new board, in place since January 2025, with making strategic decisions to get the company back on track.

“If everything continues to work as we are currently doing, we should achieve a good level of profit, despite an initial target of break-even,” Beegoo stated.

Looking ahead, Air Mauritius will issue a call for expressions of interest from potential strategic partners to secure the company’s long-term future.

Beegoo said the airline was “open to all kinds of combinations” with this objective in mind.

He also addressed the issue of outstanding aircraft orders, noting that not all were suited to current and future routes.

A detailed study is underway to determine if these planes can be integrated into the fleet.

In other news, the airline is strengthening its regional fleet with the addition of a new leased ATR 72-600, named Les Mascareignes.

The aircraft, registered as 3B-NCU, is certified for Extended Twin Engine Operations Performance Standards (ETOPS) and is set to arrive in Mauritius next week after a ferry flight from Toulouse via Luxor, Nairobi, and Nosy Be.

The new ATR 72-600, which can seat up to 70 passengers, will initially operate on regional routes to Rodrigues before serving Réunion.

The aircraft features a redesigned cabin with more storage space, improved air conditioning, and enhanced soundproofing. It is also equipped for transporting freight, stretchers, and medical equipment, particularly for the Rodrigues service.

The airline’s ATR 72 fleet currently has 41 qualified pilots, 30 of whom are Mauritian. A third ATR 72-600 is expected to join the fleet by the end of September 2025, bringing the total to one ATR 72-500 and three ATR 72-600s.

Source: l’Express