News highlights of the week : Three Air Mauritius planes grounded, flights delayed and rescheduled

Technical problems: Three Air Mauritius planes grounded

Air Mauritius is currently facing a challenging period with three of its planes grounded, causing significant disruptions.

These incidents have affected flights to destinations such as Mumbai, Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, Cape Town, and Johannesburg. Air Mauritius has had to reorganize its flights and seek seats from partner airlines. Since July 26, these issues have led to numerous delays and cancellations.

One Airbus A350 from Reunion Island collided with a flock of birds, damaging its engine and necessitating complex repairs. This forced Air Mauritius to adjust its flight schedule. Another incident involved an Airbus A330, whose "control elevator" required spare parts. Unfortunately, the parts ordered from abroad were defective, forcing the airline to conduct electrical wiring tests. This aircraft remains grounded.

A second Airbus A330 en route to Antananarivo experienced a fuel filter problem mid-flight, forcing the commander to turn back due to the lack of proper maintenance in Madagascar. The issue reappeared on the return flight, and tests confirmed fuel contamination. The repair of the aircraft will take approximately four days.

An Airbus A350 bound for Antananarivo encountered a flap system problem and had to return to its base due to the lack of maintenance on site. Passengers were rerouted to another flight.

The airline is striving to minimize the impact on its passengers. About a hundred passengers have been accommodated in hotels, and the disruptions may last a few more days until the planes are back in service.

Moody's report: Mauritius maintains Baa3 rating

Rating agency Moody's has maintained Mauritius' rating at Baa3, highlighting the country's strong economic growth and political stability as its main strengths. This assessment helps Mauritius solidify its position as an international financial center.

According to Moody's, the Mauritian economy has experienced high growth since 2022, demonstrating remarkable resilience to external shocks, particularly in its handling of the Covid-19 crisis. The report highlights ongoing fiscal consolidation and suggests that an accelerated reduction in the debt-to-GDP ratio could improve Mauritius' rating.

Moody's was also convinced by the decrease in the debt ratio and deficit, as well as the introduction of new fiscal measures such as the Climate Corporate Responsibility Levy. This 2% tax on corporate climate responsibility, included in the 24/25 budget, demonstrates the government's commitment to cleaning up public finances. The new measures aim to support debt sustainability and fund increased spending in priority sectors like pensions and renewable energy. In summary, Moody's acknowledges Mauritius' efforts to strengthen its revenue base and ensure prudent public finance management.