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Renewed losses for Air Mauritius pose major threat

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Compared to the previous financial year, when the airline showed a profit of over 10 million euros, the fortunes of Air Mauritius have reversed with the first 9 months of FY 2018/9 now showing a loss of over 25 million euros. Over the past years, Air Mauritius has managed to turn the previously loss-making national carrier around, but rising fuel prices and other market challenges have put a deep dent into the bottom line once again.

A year-on-year revenue rise of just 1.7 percent was not nearly enough to keep up with a whopping 16+ percent rise in cost. Passenger numbers rose by 4 percent to over 1.3 million during the period under review.

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The airline’s CEO confirmed passenger numbers into Mauritius rising on an annual basis by an average of 5 percent but that new airlines flying to the island prevent Air Mauritius from taking full advantage of the added demand for seats.

Over the coming months does the airline expect to take delivery of two new Airbus A330s replacing two of the fuel guzzling A340s still on the fleet. Later in the year are two Airbus A350s due to join the fleet, again replacing the same number of A340s.

Alain St Ange has been working in the tourism business since 2009. He was appointed as the Director of Marketing for Seychelles by President and Minister of Tourism James Michel. He was appointed as the Director of Marketing for Seychelles by President and Minister of Tourism James Michel. After one year of After one year of service, he was promoted to the position of CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board. In 2012 the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands regional Organization was formed and St Ange was appointed as the first president of the organization. In a 2012 cabinet re-shuffle, St Ange was appointed as Minister of Tourism and Culture which he resigned on 28 December 2016 in order to pursue a candidacy as Secretary General of the World Tourism Organisation. At the UNWTO General Assembly in Chengdu in China, a person who was being sought after for the “Speakers Circuit” for tourism and sustainable development was Alain St.Ange. St.Ange is the former Seychelles Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine who left office in December last year to run for the position of Secretary General of the UNWTO. When his candidature or document of endorsement was withdrawn by his country just a day before the elections in Madrid, Alain St.Ange showed his greatness as a speaker when he addressed the UNWTO gathering with grace, passion, and style. His moving speech was recorded as the one on the best marking speeches at this UN international body. African countries often remember his Uganda address for the East Africa Tourism Platform when he was a guest of honor. As former Tourism Minister, St.Ange was a regular and popular speaker and was often seen addressing forums and conferences on behalf of his country. His ability to speak ‘off the cuff’ was always seen as a rare ability. He often said he speaks from the heart. In Seychelles he is remembered for a marking address at the official opening of the island’s Carnaval International de Victoria when he reiterated the words of John Lennon famous song… ” you may say I am a dreamer, but I am not the only one. One day you will all join us and the world will be better as one”. The world press contingent gathered in Seychelles on the day ran with the words by St.Ange which made headlines everywhere. St.Ange delivered the keynote address for the “Tourism & Business Conference in Canada” Seychelles is a good example for sustainable tourism. This is therefore not surprising to see Alain St.Ange being sought after as a speaker on the international circuit. Member of Travelmarketingnetwork.