After five continuous years of losses, Air Mauritius has turned its fortunes around, thanks to a change in its strategic focus.
In the six months to September 2007, the carrier turned the E13.5 million ($19.7 million) loss posted in the same period in 2006 into a E2.5 million profit. Air Mauritius chairman Sanjay Bhuckory says the turnaround is all the more impressive because this low-season period is traditionally loss-making, and the liberalisation of the island republic's air transport market has led to an influx of new carriers.
Air Mauritius turned things around by improving its working practices and focusing on profitable routes. The carrier recently took delivery of two additional Airbus A340-300s and an A330-200, and has an option for one more A330-200. It is planning a network rationalisation to offer fewer destinations but more frequencies a reworking of flight operations a new in-flight product and a reduction in the number of worldwide offices.
New routes will be introduced in 2008 to Madrid and Shanghai. The latter will operate via Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. These initiatives are partly in response to the Mauritius government's declared intention to double the number of tourists to two million annually by 2015. However, Bhuckory says the expansion will be "cautious and contained".
Source: Airline Business
