Sydney Airport has welcomed the commencement today of an Air Mauritius service between Sydney and Mauritius.

The CEO of Sydney Airport, Russell Balding, congratulated Air Mauritius on its launch flights.

"Air Mauritius provides Australian travellers with more travel choice. It offers the opportunity to fly easily to Mauritius and then onto the extensive network of destinations that Air Mauritius serves.  

"The additional choice that Air Mauritius offers to destinations such as Nairobi, Kenya and Antananarivo, Madagascar will be welcome news for Australians.

"Air Mauritius’s new service also provides inbound travellers with more choice when flying to Australia. This is good news for our tourism industry.

Passengers on Air Mauritius will also get to experience Sydney Airport’s upgraded International Terminal with more space and new passenger facilities including waiting areas, retail outlets, and new passenger processing areas."

The arrival of Air Mauritius at Sydney Airport follows other important capacity additions including:
 

• Emirates upgrading its Sydney – Dubai service to triple daily from the beginning of 2010
• Air New Zealand introducing two new destinations – Rotorua and Rarotonga over the past six months
• China Southern upgrading its Guangzhao service to double daily from October 2010

Sydney Airport now has 38 international airlines flying to 47 international destinations.

"Expanding Sydney's access to the global aviation network strengthens Sydney as a global city and enhances our attractiveness as an international tourist destination.

"Sydney is Australia’s most popular tourism destination and Air Mauritius’ service provides another option for people who wish to visit Sydney.

"The launch of Air Mauritius is good news for all those people employed in the tourism, hospitality, transport and aviation related industries," Mr Balding said.