Air Mauritius Cuts A350 Orders and Eyes Five Medium-Haul Jets

Air Mauritius, the national carrier known by its IATA code MK, is rethinking its aircraft procurement strategy in what could mark a significant shift in how the airline serves its route network.

According to reporting by Le Defi Media, the airline is revising its existing orders for the Airbus A350, a long-haul widebody jet, and is now exploring the acquisition of five medium-haul aircraft. The nature of the revision to the A350 orders, including whether any aircraft are being cancelled, deferred or reduced in number, has not been specified in the available information.

The A350 is a modern twin-engine widebody jet manufactured by European aerospace group Airbus. Air Mauritius has used the type to operate long-distance routes connecting the island to destinations in Europe, Asia and beyond. The aircraft is known for its fuel efficiency and passenger comfort, and orders for it represent a substantial financial commitment for any airline.

Medium-haul aircraft, sometimes referred to as narrowbody jets, are typically used on regional routes of up to around five or six hours. For Air Mauritius, such planes would likely serve destinations within the Indian Ocean region, East Africa and potentially the Middle East. Adding five of these aircraft would give the carrier greater flexibility to develop thinner regional routes without deploying large widebody jets that are harder to fill profitably.

This fleet review comes at a time when Air Mauritius is still navigating the financial aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced the airline into voluntary administration in April 2020. The carrier emerged from that process in 2021 with a restructured balance sheet and a leaner operation, but has continued to face challenges including higher fuel costs, currency pressures and global competition.

What this means: A shift away from widebody aircraft toward a mix that includes medium-haul jets could signal that Air Mauritius is prioritising regional connectivity and financial discipline over pure long-haul expansion. For passengers, it could eventually mean more frequent services to nearby destinations. For the Mauritian economy, the composition of the national airline fleet directly affects tourism capacity, freight logistics and the country's connectivity to global business hubs.

Further details on the timeline, the aircraft types under consideration and the financial terms of any revised orders are expected to emerge as the airline formalises its fleet strategy.

Source: Le Defi Media