Air Mauritius Barred from Heathrow Return Until 2027

Air Mauritius will be unable to resume flights to London Heathrow until at least April 2027 due to legal and contractual obstacles, the Prime Minister’s Office has confirmed. In a written response to a parliamentary question from MP Tony Apollon, the government revealed that while the new leadership has been ordered to “explore all options” for a swift return, existing lease agreements for take-off and landing slots have pushed any possible comeback back by over a year.

Financial Turbulence: The Gatwick Fiasco

The move from Heathrow to London Gatwick in October 2023 has resulted in a severe financial “black hole.”

According to Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, the route has generated cumulative losses of Rs 2.6 billion over a 17-month period.

The breakdown of the losses reveals a deepening crisis:

• Rs 920 million lost between October 2023 and March 2024.
• Rs 1.7 billion lost during the 2024–2025 financial year.

To mitigate these losses, the airline has slashed its Gatwick frequency from daily flights to just five per week, effective May 2025.

Meanwhile, the airline’s three “historical slots” at Heathrow—assets it has held since 1973—are currently being leased to Qatar Airways, bringing in a relatively modest Rs 41.4 million annually.

A Decision Under Fire

The original decision to abandon Heathrow was made by the previous board, chaired by Marday Venketasamy and led by former CEO Krêsimir Kûcko.

The strategy was based on a recommendation from CAPA Consulting, a firm paid a total of Rs 36.2 million for its services between 2018 and 2020.

The previous administration justified the move by citing:

• Growth Constraints: Heathrow operations were capped at three flights per week with no new slots available.
• Commercial Isolation: A lack of interest from Heathrow-based British carriers for commercial agreements.
• Rising Costs: Higher airport charges and passenger service fees at Heathrow, with further hikes announced for 2024.
• Strategic Partnerships: The move to Gatwick facilitated a November 2023 deal with EasyJet, offering connections across the UK and Europe.

The final plan was presented to then-Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth in February 2023 before being ratified.

New Leadership Seeks Stability

Despite the setback, the current leadership of Airport Holdings Ltd (AHL)—which owns Air Mauritius, the national airports, and Mauritius Duty Free Paradise—is calling for unity.

AHL Director General Megh Pillay acknowledged in a New Year message that the transition has been difficult, requiring “patience and resilience” from the staff.

“Transition phases are never simple,” Mr Pillay stated, while affirming his commitment to building a “sustainable” organization.

Mirroring this sentiment, Air Mauritius CEO André Viljoen, who took office in October, has designated 2026 as a year for “new ideas” and “collective mobilization.”

He described the upcoming year as an “exciting opportunity” to take the national carrier to “even higher heights,” placing employees at the heart of the recovery strategy.

Source: Defi Media