The inaugural service, operated by long-haul carrier AirAsia X, touched down at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport in Mauritius on Tuesday 4 October 2016, with a full load of passengers.

These included HE Issop Pattel, High Commissioner of Mauritius to Malaysia, and several top AirAsia X officials such as chairman Rafidah Aziz, group CEO Kamarudin Meranun, board director Fam Lee Ee and CEO Benyamin Ismail, along with Kathleen Tan, AirAsia’s president for North Asia.

“We’re very excited to be here today, charting a new continent on the route map of AirAsia X with a 100% full flight,” Ismail said upon arrival in Mauritius. “The strong entry into this market has given us the confidence we need to grow this direct flight between Mauritius and Kuala Lumpur.

“Together with our short-haul affiliate AirAsia Group, our guests can now fly into Mauritius from any of the destinations within our extensive flight network across Asia, Australia and the Middle East via Kuala Lumpur,” he added.

AirAsia X’s new service becomes the only direct connection between Malaysia and Mauritius. Flights will now operate three times a week, departing KL every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday at 1025 and arriving in Mauritius at 1325. The return services leave the island nation every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 0255 and arrive back in KL at 1420.

AirAsia X will serve the route using its 377-seat, two-class Airbus A330-300 aircraft, which features flat-bed seats in the premium cabin.

The launch of flights to Mauritius comes just a year after AirAsia started flying direct between KL and the Maldives.

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