Testing out Air Mauritius’s new A330-900neo aircraft

As the launch customer for the Airbus A A340 in the 1990s, Air Mauritius has long been a regional pioneer. This April, it became the first airline in the Southern Hemisphere (and only the third in the world) to add the A330-900neo jetliner to its fleet, following the recent addition of the A350 XWB in 2017 – the year of its 50th anniversary. It makes Air Mauritius the first airline worldwide to operate both the A350 XWB and A330-900neo.

Named “Aapravasi Ghat”, as a tribute to Mauritius’s Unesco World Heritage Centre, the A330-900neo jetliner joins a fleet of 11 long-haul Airbus aircraft, and offers both business and economy class on the Heathrow- Mauritius route.

As the newest member of the Airbus family, the A330-900neo offers similar levels of comfort to the A350 XWB, while also sporting the latest technology: highly-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent 7,000 twin engines; aerodynamic improvements including increased wingspan with ‘Sharklet’ wingtips; and 25% less fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

The new cabin has LED ambient mood lighting; improved air quality to ensure clients start their Mauritius holiday with less jetlag; and, in economy class, the quietest cabin to date, along with the latest in-flight entertainment system and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Following a trip from Heathrow to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International airport onboard the A330-900neo, I was lucky enough to experience the features that business and economy passengers can enjoy onboard.