The "Aapravasi Ghat" And The "Chagos Archipelago"
The two new Airbus 330neos joining the Air Mauritius fleet at the end of this year will bear names that symbolise and reflect Mauritian heritage and national identity. One aircraft is named after the 'Aapravasi Ghat', a UNESCO world heritage site that is a tribute to the immigration of indentured labourers to the island during the nineteenth century. The second aircraft, 'Chagos Archipelago', pays homage to Mauritians from the islands that were excised from the Mauritian territory before independence in 1968.
Last year, one of the Air Mauritius A350-900 was named 'Le Morne Brabant', another UNESCO world heritage site, which has a strong symbolic value for the nation. This mountain, a prominent feature in the Mauritian landscape, is reminiscent of the island's history of slavery and the struggle for freedom. Air Mauritius CEO, Somas Appavou stated that while it was important to take Mauritius to new horizons by building connectivity, it is equally important to remember our history and our origins as a nation.