June 2, 2025 | Press Release

New routes to South Africa, Madagascar, and Réunion to boost tourism and trade ties via Mauritius hub

Air India has expanded its existing partnership with Air Mauritius through a broader codeshare agreement that significantly enhances travel options between India and Southern Africa. The agreement, signed during the 81st IATA Annual General Meeting in New Delhi, now includes 17 routes and is expected to drive stronger connectivity between India and countries like South Africa, Madagascar, and Réunion via Mauritius.

The enhanced collaboration between the two national carriers means that passengers flying from India will now enjoy seamless, single-ticket connections with baggage checked through to destinations such as Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Antananarivo, routed via Mauritius. Air India already has a codeshare in place with Air Mauritius for flights between Mauritius and Mumbai, Delhi, and Réunion.

Under the new arrangement, Air India will place its ‘AI’ designator code on Air Mauritius-operated flights beyond Mauritius to destinations in South Africa and Madagascar, effectively unlocking more of the African continent for Indian travellers. In return, Air Mauritius will expand its reach within India by placing its ‘MK’ code on more domestic Air India flights—covering key cities including Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Goa—in addition to existing codeshares on routes to Mumbai and Delhi.

All flights operated between India and Mauritius by either carrier will now bear both airline codes, offering greater flexibility in itinerary planning and more options for frequent fliers and leisure travellers alike.

“India is one of the largest tourism source markets for destinations in Southern Africa, including Mauritius and South Africa, as well as a strong trade partner to the region. This expanded codeshare partnership with Air Mauritius is another step toward widening our extended global network, which enables our customers to easily access these destinations,” said Campbell Wilson, CEO & Managing Director, Air India.

Kishore Beegoo, Chairman of Air Mauritius, added: “Air Mauritius is pleased to expand its collaboration with Air India, offering our passengers connections to numerous destinations across India via Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai. Travellers from India to Mauritius will not only experience the warmth of our multi-cultural society and the richness of our diverse local cuisine, but also enjoy the convenience of connecting to Réunion, South Africa, and Madagascar beyond with Air Mauritius.”

The newly added codeshare routes will be available for booking from July 1, 2025, through both airlines’ booking platforms and authorised travel agents.

The move is poised to deepen economic and tourism ties between India and the Southern African region, positioning Mauritius as a key gateway for cross-continental travel.