Megh Pillay's Response to Kishore Beegoo: "Baseless Allegations"

On Wednesday, Kishore Beegoo made a significant move by resigning as the director of Airport Holdings Ltd (AHL) and all its subsidiaries. In his letter to the Company Secretary of AHL, he cited the appointment of Megh Pillay as Executive Chairman of AHL as the main reason for his resignation. He claims this situation presents a conflict of interest since Megh Pillay is pursuing Air Mauritius and has filed a claim for Rs 38 million.

Additionally, he has stated that he requested a reduction of approximately 45% in Megh Pillay's proposed salary package: "I had also insisted that the amount in salary and perks requested by the said person be reduced by approx. 45% to around Rs 810,000/month."

In response to these allegations, Megh Pillay emphasized that the principles of good governance and professional integrity guide all his actions and have always shaped his career. "I have no lessons to learn in this regard – especially not from those whose own behavior raises serious questions about conflicts of interest," he asserted.

Regarding the allegations about his salary, Megh Pillay insists they are entirely unfounded. "I have never solicited, negotiated, or discussed any salary or contractual conditions to take on the leadership of the second-largest conglomerate in the country. I want to clarify that I have been performing my duties for over two months without any conditions," he stated. He therefore rejects these insinuations, which he claims are "not based on any facts," and reserves "the right to take appropriate action."

Megh Pillay reminds everyone that the priority now is to put AHL and Air Mauritius back on a path towards sustainable health. "If I accepted this responsibility, it is in the interest of AHL, Air Mauritius, and the entire Mauritian airline sector, which remains in a fragile situation, despite certain unverified information that may have circulated with obvious interests. AHL and MK need, now more than ever, serenity, stability, and real commitment to move forward," he stated.

A Return to Leading a Vital Sector

His appointment, approved by the Council of Ministers on September 5, 2025, and effective from October 1, sees Megh Pillay once again called upon by the State for his proven expertise. His name is associated with the revitalization of major institutions: Mauritius Telecom, Air Mauritius, State Trading Corporation, Agricultural Marketing Board.

His first tenure at Air Mauritius, in the early 2000s, is often recalled for record profits and a modernization strategy that repositioned the company in international markets.

His style remains unchanged: work discipline, financial rigor, structural reforms, transparency, and independence in management.

As head of AHL, a strategic holding company comprising around twenty entities, the government expects him to restore excellence in Mauritian aviation:

return Air Mauritius to its growth trajectory,
strengthen AHL's governance and stability,
restore trust among international partners and passengers,
ensure the sustainability of the aviation sector, a pillar of the national economy.

His return is seen as a second chance for a fragile airline model that still holds international ambitions. The government has high expectations for him to enhance AHL's reputation and assist Air Mauritius in regaining its cruising speed.