Air Mauritius first flight to Shanghai departed on Mauritius on the 4th of July. 

With over 200 passengers on board, the flight made short transit in Kuala Lumpur and arrived in Shanghai Airport (Pudong) on the 5th of July.  Passengers last night were greeted by a Lion Dance and a special ambiance to mark the occasion.

Air Mauritius had the privilege of welcoming His Excellency the President of the Republic and Lady Jugnauth, Honourable Bodha, Minister of Tourism and Leisure and Mr Didier Robert, President du Conseil Régional de la Réunion among other distinguished guests on this inaugural flight to Shanghai – a breakthrough also for the region as Air Mauritius becomes the first airline flying to Shanghai from this part of the World

Andre Viljoen, the airline’s Officer in Charge announced that the present service to Shanghai will evolve to a nonstop flight in February 2012 ahead of the Chinese New Year and, and if demand follows, a second flight will be operated by October 2012

Air Mauritius hopes that its travel and cargo partners will take full advantage of this new flight for developing business to one of the world’s most exciting regions

The once weekly flight will be operated by an Airbus A330-200, with 24 seats in lie flat business class and 251 seats in economy class.