Airline overview
Air Mauritius is the flag carrier of the Republic of Mauritius. It was founded on 14 June 1967 by the Government of Mauritius together with Air France and British Overseas Airways Corporation, started out as a ground handling agent, opened commercial inter-island flights in September 1972 and grew into a regional network carrier serving the Indian Ocean, Africa, Asia and Europe. The IATA two-letter code is MK, the ICAO three-letter code is MAU, the radio call sign is AIR MAURITIUS and the official website is airmauritius.com.
The head office is in Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, and the operating hub is Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU, formerly Plaisance Airport) in the southeast of the island. Air Mauritius is a core member of the Vanilla Alliance and its frequent flyer programme is Kestrelflyer. Cargo is handled by Air Mauritius Cargo, which uses belly space on the company's widebody fleet for international shipments.
For Chinese shippers the value of Air Mauritius lies in its Indian Ocean hub position. Mauritius sits in the core of the southwestern Indian Ocean, is an African Union member state and a member of the Indian Ocean Commission, with active tourism, financial services and re-export trade. Chinese exports of machinery and electrical products, consumer goods, textiles and apparel and e-commerce cargo can enter the Mauritian market through the carrier's Asian gateways and go on to Reunion, Madagascar, Seychelles and other Indian Ocean islands as well as markets along the southeast African coast.
Timeline
Since its founding, Air Mauritius has moved from ground handling to an international network carrier, and its China business has risen and fallen with that journey.
Fleet size and cargo capability
As of the fleet plan the company published in 2025, Air Mauritius operates 12 aircraft: 4 A350-900 XWB, 2 A330-900neo, 2 A330-200 and 4 ATR 72 turboprop regional aircraft. The 2 A330-200 are bridging capacity and will leave the fleet when their operating leases expire. The company has confirmed it will take delivery of 3 additional A350-900 XWB in 2026 and 2027, further enlarging the widebody long-haul fleet.
On freighter configuration: the current fleet has no dedicated freighter and all cargo moves in widebody passenger belly space. The company states in its cargo product description that capacity comes from the holds of the A350-900 XWB, A330-900neo and A330-200, supported by a widebody network of more than 100 flights a week. Chinese export cargo using Air Mauritius capacity is booked as passenger belly space.
| Aircraft type | Number on register | Operating scope | Cargo methods and characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A350-900 XWB | 4 aircraft | Long-haul trunk routes to Europe and Asia | Belly space on widebody twinjets; the main hold takes pallets and containers, with large per-flight belly capacity as the main cargo capacity. |
| Airbus A330-900neo | 2 aircraft | Medium and long sectors to Europe and Asia | Belly space on next-generation widebodies with high fuel efficiency, flying seasonal routes such as Geneva and Asian gateway routes. |
| Airbus A330-200 | 2 aircraft (bridging capacity) | Asian routes such as Mumbai and Kuala Lumpur | Belly space on mature widebodies, carrying Asian route cargo during the transition period and leaving the fleet when the leases expire. |
| ATR 72-600 / 500 | 4 aircraft | Inter-island routes such as Mauritius to Rodrigues | Belly space on turboprop regional aircraft, mainly serving inter-island mail and small parcels; these aircraft do not fly to China. |
The A350-900 XWB is the core type on the Air Mauritius long-haul network, with a two-class cabin. Its belly holds take standard LD containers and pallets, suited to Chinese general cargo, e-commerce shipments and high-value electronics moving in volume. More than 100 widebody flights a week worldwide give belly cargo steady network density.
Current state of the China lane
Air Mauritius first opened the Shanghai route in July 2011 and went on to serve 3 scheduled points, Shanghai Pudong, Hong Kong and Wuhan, and to operate seasonal charters to Chengdu. Global public health events led the company to shrink its international network from 2020, and those direct China flights were not restored in later seasons. Under the company's winter timetable for October 2025 to March 2026, the current Asian scheduled points are Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kuala Lumpur, with no scheduled direct flights to mainland China or Hong Kong.
For Chinese shippers, the workable route to Air Mauritius capacity today is consolidation at a Chinese gateway, transit at an Asian gateway and distribution from the MRU hub. The carrier has a codeshare agreement with Malaysia Airlines, so Chinese export cargo can move by air or road from a Chinese gateway to Kuala Lumpur and connect to Air Mauritius scheduled flights from Kuala Lumpur to Mauritius; the Mumbai and Delhi gateways also lead into the Air Mauritius network. Consolidation in China, export clearance and the Asian gateway connection can be arranged by us as a one-stop service.
Route table: connection paths for Chinese export cargo
The table below lists the main paths for Chinese export cargo into the Air Mauritius network, the connecting sectors and the current schedule structure, compiled from the company's 2025 winter timetable.
| Path | China leg (consolidation gateway) | Transit gateway | Leg to Mauritius | Current schedule | Freight mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Path 1 | Consolidation and export clearance at Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Shanghai | Kuala Lumpur KUL | KUL → MRU | Twice weekly, rising to 4 times weekly from November to January | Passenger aircraft belly capacity |
| Path 2 | As above, with consolidation at western gateways through Chengdu and Chongqing | Mumbai BOM | BOM → MRU | 4 times weekly (3 times weekly in October and November) | Passenger aircraft belly capacity |
| Path 3 | Same as above | Delhi DEL | DEL → MRU | 1 flight a week | Passenger aircraft belly capacity |
| Path 4 | As above, with consolidation at southern gateways through Kunming | Chennai MAA | MAA → MRU | 1 flight a week | Passenger aircraft belly capacity |
| Historic direct service | Shanghai Pudong PVG | No connection | PVG → MRU | Operated from 2011, suspended after 2020; no public information indicates a resumption plan. | Suspended |
Of these paths, the Kuala Lumpur gateway connects most smoothly because of the Malaysia Airlines codeshare and suits cargo from southern Chinese gateways; the Mumbai gateway has the densest frequency and suits cargo from the northwest. Chinese shippers can choose a path by delivery gateway and delivery deadline, and we provide a comparison of paths and capacity confirmation before booking.
Indian Ocean route network diagram
Chinese export cargo leaves southern and eastern Chinese gateways, transits the Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai and Delhi gateways, arrives at the MRU hub and is then distributed to markets around the Indian Ocean.
Cargo advantages for Chinese exports to Mauritius
Chinese cargo entering Mauritius and the Indian Ocean market through the Air Mauritius network offers clear value in the following situations.
Gateway to Indian Ocean island states
Mauritius is an aviation hub state in the southwestern Indian Ocean and MRU is an important transit point on the southeast African coast. Cargo distributed through MRU can connect to Reunion, Rodrigues, Seychelles and other Indian Ocean island markets, covering several island destinations with 1 booking.
Steady widebody belly capacity
The belly holds of the A350-900 XWB and A330-900neo take pallets and standard containers, with per-flight capacity well above narrowbody aircraft, suited to Chinese general cargo and full-pallet shipments.
Vanilla Alliance regional connections
Air Mauritius is a core member of the Vanilla Alliance and works closely with island carriers in the region, so Chinese cargo arriving at MRU can connect to regional flights the same day for final distribution to Indian Ocean islands.
Flexible choice of connection paths
4 Asian gateways, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai, are open at once, so cargo from different Chinese delivery gateways can be matched to the densest connection and waiting time is reduced.
Specialised cargo products and handling services
Air Mauritius Cargo uses widebody belly space to offer the following cargo products for shipments from China via Asian gateways to Mauritius.
General cargo and e-commerce cargo
Chinese exports of textiles and apparel, household goods, plastic products, homeware and cross-border e-commerce cargo can be consolidated at Guangzhou and Shenzhen and flown to Mauritius in widebody belly space. Local retail and e-commerce demand for Chinese consumer goods is steady, making this the main belly cargo.
High-value and urgent cargo
Chinese exports of consumer electronics, communications accessories and high-value goods can use priority capacity with waybill tracking throughout. On routings through a transit gateway we book the connecting capacity and handle the transfer handover, cutting waiting time at the transit airport.
Live and temperature-controlled cargo
Fishing and horticulture are well developed in the waters around Mauritius and the region has solid experience with temperature-controlled cargo. Chinese exports needing temperature control must have cold-chain conditions across the whole journey and connection times at the transit point confirmed before booking, and actual handling is subject to carrier confirmation.
Mail and urgent shipments
The company's inter-island routes have long carried mail and small urgent shipments, so Chinese documents, samples and urgent spares can move on from the MRU hub to Indian Ocean points.
Key points for connection handling
For Chinese cargo transiting an Asian gateway, the connection time between the 2 flight legs and the minimum connecting time at the transit airport must be confirmed at booking. We secure capacity on the gateway leg as a single through booking so cargo does not sit at the transit airport waiting for space. For time-sensitive e-commerce cargo we recommend the densest Mumbai gateway path to shorten the wait. Lithium battery and temperature-controlled shipments must be declared at the booking stage, with capacity allocated only after the carrier confirms ground handling conditions at the transit airport.
Cargo categories exported from China to Mauritius
China is one of Mauritius' important sources of imports, and bilateral trade is dominated by Chinese manufactured exports. Chinese cargo carried on the Air Mauritius belly network falls mainly into the following categories.
Light industry, textiles and apparel
Textile fabrics, garments, footwear, bags and household goods are traditional Chinese exports to Mauritius and suit volume belly shipments after consolidation at Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
Machinery, electrical and hardware products
Small machinery and electrical products, hardware tools, lighting and building material fittings serve local construction and manufacturing in Mauritius and suit full-pallet shipments through a transit gateway.
Consumer electronics and accessories
Phone accessories, small appliances and digital accessories hold a steady share of the Mauritian retail market; their high-value nature calls for waybill tracking throughout and priority handling.
Packaging materials and re-export cargo
Mauritius is a re-export node in the Indian Ocean, and some Chinese cargo is cleared at MRU and re-exported to countries along the southeast African coast, which suits a regional distribution plan.
Booking path from China
Chinese shippers using Air Mauritius belly capacity to send cargo to Mauritius can complete the whole arrangement in the following 3 steps.
Booking plan for China to Mauritius
Consolidation and export clearance at a Chinese gateway, connection to Air Mauritius widebody flights through the Kuala Lumpur or Mumbai gateway, and clearance and distribution from MRU to Indian Ocean markets.
Confirm the cargo category, weight, volume, final destination country and preferred transit gateway, and confirm at the same time whether temperature control or dangerous goods requirements apply.
We match the cargo profile to the Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai or Delhi gateway path, secure Air Mauritius widebody belly capacity and confirm the connecting flights.
Delivery and export clearance at the Chinese gateway, loading after the gateway connection, clearance at MRU and final distribution by the local agent, with waybill status visible throughout.
Our capabilities on the Mauritius lane
Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited has long handled air freight between China and Africa and the Indian Ocean. On the Mauritius lane we provide the following services for direct use by Chinese shippers.
Consolidation at China ports and export customs declaration
Chinese shippers can deliver at major gateways such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Shanghai; we handle pickup, cargo check at the consolidation warehouse, export clearance and booking of Air Mauritius belly capacity. Cargo consolidated at Guangzhou can be moved to the transit gateway the same day.
Transit gateway connection planning
Given that Air Mauritius currently has no direct China service, we compare the 4 gateways of Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai by cargo weight, volume and transit time requirement and choose the best connection to cut waiting time. Long-term customers can sign annual agreements to secure capacity.
Arrival tracking and final distribution
From uplift at the Chinese gateway we track waybill status throughout. After arrival at MRU we help arrange clearance and final distribution in Mauritius and to surrounding Indian Ocean markets. If the carrier adjusts its schedule or a connecting flight changes, we notify the shipper promptly and adjust the onward plan.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Does Air Mauritius fly direct to China now?
No. The Asian points in the company's 2025 winter timetable are Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kuala Lumpur, with no scheduled direct flights to mainland China or Hong Kong, so Chinese cargo must transit an Asian gateway.
Which Chinese cities did Air Mauritius serve before?
The company opened the Shanghai route in July 2011 and went on to serve 3 scheduled points, Shanghai Pudong, Hong Kong and Wuhan, plus seasonal charters to Chengdu; those routes were suspended after 2020.
Does Air Mauritius have dedicated freighters?
The current fleet has no dedicated freighter. All cargo moves in the belly space of A350-900 XWB, A330-900neo and A330-200 widebody passenger aircraft.
Which gateway is the most convenient for Chinese cargo?
Cargo from southern Chinese gateways is best routed through Kuala Lumpur, which has a Malaysia Airlines codeshare connection; cargo from other gateways can be matched to Mumbai, Delhi or Chennai by delivery position, and we compare the options at booking.
Which Chinese exports suit Air Mauritius?
Textiles and apparel, household goods, machinery and hardware, consumer electronics accessories and e-commerce cargo. Widebody belly space suits full-pallet general cargo, and high-value goods can be given priority handling.
How long does China to Mauritius take?
Including consolidation at the Chinese gateway and export clearance, transit through an Asian gateway and clearance at MRU, the whole journey usually takes 5 to 8 days, depending on the gateway schedule chosen and clearance progress; the plan confirmed on the day of booking applies.
Which nearby markets can cargo reach after arrival in Mauritius?
Through the MRU hub cargo connects to Reunion, Rodrigues, Seychelles and other Indian Ocean island markets and reaches countries along the southeast African coast, covering several destination countries with 1 booking.
What is the Air Mauritius official website?
The official website is airmauritius.com, where cargo product information is available in the cargo section. Chinese shippers can also get the latest rates, capacity and handling guidance from us.
Disclaimer
Information here is for reference only and does not constitute a transport contract or commercial commitment. Air Mauritius route schedules, fleet configuration and cargo capability may change with commercial decisions and seasonal schedules without notice; flight times are local and actual schedules, rates and connection plans are subject to confirmation by the carrier or the relevant body on the day of booking.
Contact details
For details of air freight services between China and Mauritius and around the Indian Ocean, or for booking assistance, contact Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight), official website goodhope86.com.
Trademark notice
Air Mauritius and related marks are registered trademarks or trademarks of Air Mauritius Limited. The names are used here for introduction and explanation only and do not imply any agency, partnership or affiliation between the company that operates The material and Air Mauritius. Other airline names and trademarks mentioned are the trademarks of their respective owners.