Strategic Partnership: The Shadow of Qatar Airways Hangs Over Air Mauritius
Title: Strategic Partnership: The Shadow of Qatar Airways Hangs Over Air Mauritius
The national airline, Air Mauritius, is at a critical strategic crossroads. Advanced discussions within the government are focused on adopting a strategic partner for the airline. This consideration, already well underway at high levels, was even addressed during a recent cabinet meeting and will be revisited in the coming weeks.
The idea of associating Air Mauritius with an external ally seems to have gained traction among decision-makers, although the specific terms—form of partnership and level of involvement—are yet to be defined. The urgency to move forward on this matter is palpable, as the airline continues to face persistent structural challenges and numerous technical issues leading to flight delays and cancellations.
Among the potential candidates, Qatar Airways has emerged as a preferred option. The Doha-based airline has already shown significant interest in collaborating with Air Mauritius. Within the Mauritian government, there is a belief that Qatar Airways has "much to offer" in terms of technical expertise, skilled personnel, and modern equipment. Beyond these operational advantages, access to the Doha hub—one of the most dynamic in the world—could transform Air Mauritius's prospects. By utilizing this air node, the Mauritian airline could expand its routes, optimize its international connections, and enhance Mauritius's appeal as a tourist destination. Doha, with its ultramodern infrastructure, would serve as a hub for increased passenger flows to Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, thus elevating the island's visibility as a premium destination. This is at least the prevailing sentiment in governmental circles.
Qatar Airways, recognized as one of the world's top airlines, has been named "World's Best Airline" for the ninth time at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2025. This ranking, based on surveys of millions of passengers, highlights the excellence of its services, fleet, and network. For Mauritius, such a partnership would not only represent a technical leverage but also a strong signal of international credibility.
Qatar Airways' interest in the Mauritius destination is not new; it dates back nearly two decades. However, successive governments have favored Emirates, the historical rival based in Dubai. This preference has led to a systematic refusal of landing requests made by Qatar Airways at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. Emirates, on the other hand, has continued to solidify its presence on the island. Starting December 1, the Emirati airline will add a third daily flight to Mauritius, bringing its weekly capacity to over 20,000 seats—an increase of more than 30% on this strategic route. Since its first flights to Plaissance in 2002, Emirates has an impressive record: over 8.8 million passengers transported to Mauritius and 126,000 tonnes of freight carried over almost a quarter of a century. The economic impact is equally significant: a direct contribution of $119 million (Rs 5.4 billion at current exchange rates), $264 million (Rs 12 billion) in tourism revenue generated, and $530 million (Rs 24.6 billion) injected into the Mauritian economy through visitor spending. This impact is also evident in the creation of 3,600 local jobs and the hiring of hundreds of Mauritians within the Emirates group.
Breaking the Taboo
Faced with this dominance of Emirates, the current government seems determined to break the taboo, according to a source close to the matter. Authorities believe that Qatar, beyond its airline, could offer additional substantial support to Mauritius. In the energy sector, for example, potential collaborations could involve the supply of petroleum products and liquefied natural gas (LNG), sectors where Qatar excels as the world's leading LNG exporter. These expanded partnerships could diversify Mauritian supplies and stabilize energy costs.
Air Mauritius, for its part, has been undergoing a restructuring phase for several years. Since 2021, the airline has been fully owned—except for a handful of shares still held by small shareholders—by Airport Holdings Ltd (AHL). This entity is 51% controlled by the Mauritian government and 49% by the Mauritius Investment Corporation, which is itself owned by the Bank of Mauritius. This shareholder structure was designed to help Air Mauritius emerge from voluntary administration, which it entered in early 2020 to avoid imminent bankruptcy. The Covid-19 pandemic had exacerbated the airline's financial difficulties, already weakened by accumulated losses and increased competition.
When questioned during a press conference last Friday about the prospect of a strategic partnership, Kishore Beegoo, chairman of Air Mauritius, took an open stance: "All options are on the table. We have no barriers in our way of thinking." He also indicated that the airline is considering launching a call for expressions of interest to gauge the actual appetite of potential investors to enter its shareholder structure. "We will see if the interest meets our requirements. We will make a decision if necessary," he added, emphasizing a pragmatic and measured approach.
In addition to Qatar Airways, other players have shown persistent interest in Air Mauritius. Ethiopian Airlines, the leading African airline, has been following the issue for many years. During the period of voluntary administration, it even made a formal proposal to become a strategic partner, but this was met with a categorical refusal. Ethiopian Airlines, with its hub in Addis Ababa, could offer continental synergies, particularly to strengthen intra-African connections and support regional tourism development. However, government priorities today seem to lean towards more global alliances, such as that with Qatar Airways.
This search for a strategic partner is not a new pursuit for Air Mauritius. Since its inception, the company has often relied on international alliances to ensure its viability. Founded on June 14, 1967, by Amédée Maingard, Air Mauritius benefited from strong partnerships from the outset. Through these relationships, entities like Air France and the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), which later became British Airways, allied with the Mauritian government and Rogers & Co. Ltd to launch the national airline. The first board meeting took place at Rogers' premises, and Amédée Maingard was appointed chairman, a position he held until 1981.
Today, as Mauritius aspires to sustainable growth in tourism and air transport, the shadow of Qatar Airways looms larger than ever over Air Mauritius. This potential partnership could mark a decisive turning point by injecting expertise and fresh capital into a company that, despite its challenges, remains a pillar of the island's economy. It remains to be seen how negotiations will evolve if the government decides to pursue this path.
Qatar Airways Expanding
Founded in 1993 and based in Doha, Qatar Airways is one of the world's most prestigious airlines. A member of the Oneworld alliance, it operates a fleet of over 250 aircraft, serving more than 170 international destinations, and employs more than 43,000 people. In 2025, it was named "World's Best Airline" for the ninth time at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, praised for its customer service, innovative cabins (notably the Qsuite in business class), and its ultramodern hub, Hamad International Airport. Qatar Airways is also a key player in air freight and a strategic investor in several airlines, such as IAG (British Airways) and Cathay Pacific. Last February, Qatar Airways acquired 25% of Virgin Australia Holdings. Since 2020, negotiations have been underway with the Rwandan government for a 49% purchase in Rwandair. Last May, it was discussed that the deal would happen "in the coming months." Its interest in Air Mauritius aligns with a strategy of expansion and strengthening its influence in the Indian Ocean.
Kishore Beegoo Guests on Au Cœur de l’Info This Monday
The chairman of Air Mauritius, Kishore Beegoo, will be a guest of Patrick Hilbert on the show "Au Cœur de l’Info" this Monday on Radio Plus. The show starts at 5 PM.
Air Mauritius's Shareholder Structure Before Voluntary Administration
Before its voluntary administration in April 2020, Air Mauritius had a diversified shareholder structure, reflecting its historical partnerships. At its IPO in 1995, the majority of its capital was held by Air Mauritius Holdings (51%), by the State (19.97%), Port-Louis Fund (6.32%), The State Investment Corporation (4.72%), the Mauritian government (4.53%), Rogers & Co. Ltd (4.28%), British Airways (3.84%), Air France (2.78%), and Air India (2.56%). This configuration, inherited from the founding alliances, aimed to balance public and private influences, but it was not enough to prevent financial crises. In 2021, the government bought back all the shares through Airport Holdings Ltd (AHL).