[Air Transport] Air Mauritius Returns to Profit After Nine Years of Losses
Air Mauritius has officially turned the page on its financial struggles, recording a profit of Rs 252.7 million (4.9 million euros) for the April-June 2025 quarter. This result sharply contrasts with the loss of Rs 611.8 million (12.4 million euros) incurred during the same period the previous year.
A Historic Recovery
This performance represents a remarkable turnaround of Rs 864.5 million, or 17.3 million euros. It marks the first profit recorded by the national airline in the first quarter after nine consecutive years of losses.
The financial recovery is also reflected in the improvement of the company's balance sheet. The shareholders' deficit, which stood at Rs 9.83 billion (195 million euros) on March 31, 2024, has been significantly reduced to Rs 3.76 billion (75.7 million euros) as of June 30, 2025.
Strengthened Cash Position
Air Mauritius's cash position has also strengthened during this period. Cash and cash equivalents increased from Rs 2.30 billion (45.7 million euros) on March 31, 2025, to Rs 2.83 billion (53.7 million euros) on June 30, 2025, an increase of Rs 530 million.
Modest Revenue Growth
On the passenger revenue side, Air Mauritius has seen modest but encouraging growth. Passenger revenues increased by 2.6% compared to the same period last year, while the yield per passenger rose by 0.4%. This improvement in commercial performance indicates a gradual recovery in activity following the difficult years faced by the airline industry.
Operational Challenges Persist
Despite these encouraging financial results, Air Mauritius continues to face significant operational challenges. During the quarter, the company had to manage the prolonged grounding of one of its A330-900neo aircraft for 8 weeks out of the 13-week period. The fleet was also affected by 24 AOG (Aircraft on Ground) incidents, which temporarily grounded aircraft. These operational disruptions led to additional costs of Rs 139.2 million (2.7 million euros) during the period.
Future Prospects
This return to profitability is a crucial milestone for Air Mauritius, which has gone through a particularly challenging period in recent years. The airline now seems to be on the path to sustainable recovery, although operational challenges highlight the need to maintain efforts to solidify this improvement.
The first quarter results of 2025 offer encouraging prospects for the remainder of the fiscal year and potentially mark the beginning of a new era for the Mauritian national airline.
