The Air Mauritius success story

Written by Peter Chellen Wednesday, 23 December 2009 12:22

News Articles - Travel and Tourism

One fine day in 1972, a tiny six-seater Piper Navajo left Plaisance and landed at Plaine Corail, Rodrigues. It was a historic event on two counts. Not only was it the first air link with the Cinderella of the Indian Ocean but it was also the maiden flight of Air Mauritius.

The national company’s fleet now includes Boeing 747s and 767s which proudly spread their wings towards Europe, Asia and Africa. Its route map is a beautiful arabesque of lines that are constantly increasing in both length and number. But Air Mauritius has not abandoned its first inter-islands links. The Piper Navajo became a Twin Otter which for a long time fluttered along between Mauritius, Rodrigues and Reunion Island before joined by a magnificent ATR 42.

Sir Harry Tirvengadum, the Chairman of Air Mauritius, is justifiably proud when he talks of the company’s success story: “Before we could fly, we had to learn how to walk! The first four years of its existence, Air Mauritius looked after the technical and airport services at Plaisance. Once we had mastered the ground, we set off to conquer the sky in 1972. We spent our early years above the Indian Ocean in the fragile Piper Navajo which the company had leased. But soon we felt cramped over the Mascarenes, even though we had not yet grown our wings! 1n 1973, Air Mauritius took off on a joint flight with Air India between Mauritius and Bombay. The same year we flew off to London via Nairobi in a Super VC 10 leased from British Airways.”

Air Mauritius bought its first plane, an 18-seater Twin Otter in 1975. The tiny bird grew bigger and, six years later, the City of Port Louis landed after its maiden flight from London, a superb Boeing 707 which showed off proudly the delicate and graceful silhouette of the Paille-en-Queue, the symbol of Air Mauritius.

“Ever since then”, continues Sir Harry Tirvengadum, “Air Mauritius has continued to develop in extraordinary fashion in both quality and quantity. Today, our planes fly to 17 destinations. In October, we will start a non-stop flight to Hong Kong. Our new service to Frankfurt will begin in November with two weekly flights organised jointly with Lufthansa”

MN Note: The Islander is Air Mauritius’ flight magazine available free on board. We used to be sent a copy

of every issue by HQ. This is how we can talk about above success story.

Unfortunately, we no longer receive any.

From MN special edition - March 1993 (for Mauritius’ 25th Independence anniversary issue)

“The idea of the establishment of a National Carrier dates back to the period immediately preceding our country’s independence, when among the areas likely to contribute to the development of the newly emerging nation, the need for improving the external Communications Network was felt. Air Mauritius was thus set up on 14 June 1967, and given three main objectives by the Government:

1 Set up and ensure solid air transportation links between Mauritius and the various countries with which the country trades;

2. Develop and support the tourist industry

3. Ensure the carriage of export products and other manufactured goods to their respective markets.

The Company set for itself the primary objective of functioning on a commercially sound, efficient and viable basis.

Air Mauritius has successfully implemented over the years, Government’s policy of strengthening air communications as a vital instrument in removing the country from isolation in this part of the world. In 1972, when the Company started passenger service, it operated to Rodrigues only. Today (1993) it operates to 21 destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Indian Ocean Islands, with 33 offices around the world actively involved in diversifying and consolidating our tourist, ethnic and business markets.”

There you are! When I say Sir Harry Tirvengadum is the man who gave Air Mauritius its wings to fly to distant horizons, it’s no exaggeration. When I place him among the three giants I have met in the Mauritius Civil Service I don’t exaggerate either. (The other two being Dr K. Hazareesingh and Raymond Chasle – See Page 3.).

Sir Harry is a pint-size giant who used to tread with other giants. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, held him in admiration, and so did Sir Harold Walter, First Communications Minister, under whom everything was to take off literally in the very early days. It is certain that the incumbent Republic President (and former PM) Sir Anerood Jugnauth and his family as well have a great esteem for old Tirven.

Peter Chellen

Managing Director