Emirates expands Mauritius connectivity with new daily Boeing 777 flight
New flight to enhance links with Middle East, Europe, and Asia
DUBAI: In a move set to strengthen travel links to the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius, Emirates has announced the addition of a third daily flight between Dubai and the island nation.
The new service, scheduled to launch from 1 December, will be operated using a three-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, significantly boosting seat capacity on the route by over 30%.
The expanded service reflects Emirates’ ongoing commitment to supporting inbound tourism to Mauritius and enhancing global connectivity for travellers across its network of more than 140 destinations.
Enhanced connectivity
The new flight, designated EK709/710, joins Emirates’ existing two daily A380 flights (EK701/702 and EK703/704), offering passengers more flexibility in planning their trips. The additional Boeing 777 flight will operate daily, departing Dubai at 06:55 hrs and arriving in Mauritius at 13:40 hrs. The return flight will leave Mauritius at 18:30 hrs and reach Dubai at 01:10 hrs the following day. All times are local.
Under a codeshare arrangement with Air Mauritius, the third service aims to improve travel itineraries and offer seamless connections for passengers from the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, and the Far East. Emirates has announced plans to actively promote Mauritius as a destination in key Asian markets including Japan, China, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.
Booking and demand
Travellers can already book tickets for the third daily flight via emirates.com, the Emirates App, Emirates Retail stores, contact centres, and travel agents. The new service will offer First Class, Business Class, and Economy Class seating.
Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We would like to thank the Mauritian authorities for making an additional daily service possible. We have been proudly serving Mauritius since 2002, and our double daily A380 services have been a major success and contributor to the growth of the country’s tourism industry.”
Kazim added that the third daily flight on a wide-body Boeing 777 aircraft would not only increase capacity but also provide more flexible options for both business and leisure travellers. “The additional daily service will allow both airlines to meet demand from global travellers,” he said.
Economic contribution
Since launching its Mauritius route in 2002, Emirates has transported over 8.8 million passengers and more than 126,000 tonnes of cargo. The airline’s operations have had significant economic and social impacts, including a direct contribution of $119 million from Emirates’ flights, $264 million in tourism receipts, and a broader $530 million boost to the Mauritian economy through tourism-related spending.
The airline’s operations have supported the creation of 3,600 jobs across Mauritius. Additionally, hundreds of Mauritian nationals are employed by Emirates, working in roles ranging from pilots and cabin crew to engineering and customer service.
Partnership and promotion
Emirates’ success on the Mauritius route has been bolstered by its partnership with Air Mauritius, established in 2003, and ongoing collaboration with the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) since 2012. These partnerships have enabled joint initiatives that have raised the global profile of Mauritius as a premier travel destination.
At present, Emirates operates 14 weekly flights between Dubai and Mauritius aboard the A380, offering a weekly capacity of more than 15,000 seats. Emirates remains the only airline operating A380 services to the island and is also the sole carrier offering First Class cabins on the route.