Business class: Air Mauritius expands Perth service

Air Mauritius will add a third Perth-Mauritius service in mid-2008 as it looks to grow Perth as its Australian operational hub.

Key management personnel from the airline visited Perth last week to meet with industry figures, including new Perth airport chief executive Brad Geatches, to outline their strategy for the Australian market.

The airline currently runs twice-weekly services between Perth and Mauritius, with about 500 passengers passing through the Perth market each week. Air Mauritius also runs a weekly service from both Sydney and Melbourne.

The airline’s national sales and marketing manager, Chris Callanan (pictured right), told WA Business News the airline’s expanded capacity in the Perth market allowed it to service different types of passengers in addition to holidaymakers, including those traveling beyond Mauritius.

He said the airline had essentially trebled its Perth capacity in March this year with the addition of the 300-seat Airbus A340 aircraft, replacing its Boeing 767 aircraft on the route, and the addition of an extra service.

About two-thirds of the airline’s Australian capacity and frequency is centred in Perth, which will lift to about three-quarters once the extra service comes online next July.

“We intend to continue to expand the use of Perth as a hub for entry to and exit out of Australia,” he said.

Mr Callanan said discussions were already under way with the relevant authorities regarding the new service, and expected to lock in the rights to those flights by the end of the year.

Other fleet changes for the airline include the purchase of two new Airbus A330s, which will be configured as a two-class, 275-seat operation.

The A340s, which are currently configured as a three-class operation, will be reconfigured into a two-class service.

It is expected the A330 aircraft will be used on the Perth route.

Mr Callanan said a Madrid-Mauritius service would also be coming online on a seasonal basis next year. 

The airline is also looking to expand its London service from five times a week to a daily service.