Owais Crawford
Mauritius is an island nation with two airports: Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport and Sir Gaetan Duval Airport. The former is the main airport, located in Plaine Magnien, 48 km southeast of the capital city of Port Louis. The latter is a domestic airport located on Rodrigues Island, at a place called Plaine Corail. In this paragraph, we will explore the location of Mauritius' primary international airport and how travellers can get there.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport |
| Location | Plaine Magnien |
| Distance from Port Louis | 48 km |
| Former Name | Plaisance Airport |
| Direct Flights | Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia |
| Owner | Airports of Mauritius Co. Ltd. (AML) |
| Operator | Airports of Mauritius Co. Ltd. (AML) |
| Major Shareholder | Government of Mauritius |
| Named After | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, the first Prime Minister of Mauritius |
| National Airline | Air Mauritius |
| Capacity | 4 million passengers |
| Area | 57,000 square meters |
| Number of Boarding Gates | 5 |
| Facilities | ATMs, food courts, restaurants, in-airport shopping, luggage reclaim hall, car rental services, duty-free shops, lounges, currency exchange |
| Parking Capacity | 600 |
Explore related products
![(Not) Perfect Human [OV]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71YneMK9cFL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
The airport is located in Plaine Magnien
The airport is owned and operated by Airports of Mauritius Co. Ltd. (AML), with the Government of Mauritius being the major shareholder. It is named after the country's first prime minister, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam. The airport's design is inspired by the tropical "Traveller's Palm" plant, native to Mauritius, and can accommodate over four million passengers.
The airport has various facilities, including duty-free shops, restaurants, lounges, currency exchange, and car rental services. It also has ATMs, food courts, shopping areas, and a luggage reclaim hall. The new terminal, which cost US$306 million, incorporates environmental considerations such as solar energy, rainwater recovery, and thermo-insulated facades.
To reach the airport from Port Louis, one can drive southeast on the M2 Road for about 40 kilometres. Public buses also connect Port Louis to the airport, with a journey time of approximately one hour. For those coming from Mahebourg, taking the A10 Road westwards for 6 kilometres and following the signs will lead to the airport.
Currency Exchange at Dulles Airport: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
It's 48km southeast of the capital, Port Louis
Mauritius' main airport, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, is located 48km southeast of the island's capital, Port Louis. The airport is the primary international airport serving the island nation of Mauritius. It is located at Plaine Magnien and was previously known as Plaisance Airport. The airport has direct flights to several destinations in Africa, Asia, Australia and Europe. It is also home to the country's national airline, Air Mauritius.
The airport is owned and operated by Airports of Mauritius Co. Ltd. (AML), with the Government of Mauritius as its major shareholder. It is named after Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, the first Prime Minister of Mauritius. The airport's design is inspired by the 'Traveller's Palm', a tropical plant native to Mauritius. The new terminal, which cost US$306 million, incorporates environmental and ecological features such as solar energy, rainwater recovery, and thermo-insulated facades.
Passengers travelling to the airport from Port Louis can take the M2 Road southeast for about 40 kilometres and follow the signs to the airport. Public buses run regularly between Port Louis and the airport, with a one-way trip costing approximately INR 300 per person and taking about 60 minutes. Car rental services are also available at the airport for those who prefer to drive themselves.
The airport offers a range of facilities, including duty-free shops, restaurants, lounges, currency exchange, and car parking. It is designed to handle a large number of passengers, with a capacity of over four million travellers. The airport is well-equipped to accommodate large aircraft, including the Airbus A380, and it continues to develop its infrastructure to meet the increasing air traffic demand to this popular island destination.
Exploring Albany Airport: Efficient Access with Multiple Gates
You may want to see also
Explore related products
It was previously called Plaisance Airport
Mauritius's primary international airport is located in Plaine Magnien, 48 kilometres southeast of the country's capital, Port Louis. It is the larger of the two airports in Mauritius, the other being the Sir Gaetan Duval Airport, a domestic airport located on Rodrigues Island.
The airport in Mauritius was previously called Plaisance Airport. It was first established as a racecourse used as a landing strip alongside the beach at Mon Choisy in the north of the island. The first regional flight was made by Mr Maurice Samat, who flew his plane from nearby Reunion Island with his co-pilot, Mr Paul Lemerle. A memorial commemorates this historic landing at Mon Choisy.
During World War II, when Mauritius was a Crown colony, the government began constructing a Royal Naval Air Station at Plaisance near Mahébourg as part of the defence of Mauritius. This was subsequently handed over to the Royal Air Force at the end of the war, and civilian operations began shortly after. The first flight to Rodrigues Island was made on 10 September 1972 by Air Mauritius, which flew from Plaisance Airport to the Plaine Corail Airport.
In 1986, infrastructure works were undertaken to accommodate larger aircraft, and a new terminal was built. The airport was later renamed Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, after the first Prime Minister of Mauritius. The upgrade was necessary to accommodate the increasing number of visitors to the island. The airport is now able to handle over 4 million passengers a year.
Lax Airport's Covid Testing: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
It's named after the country's first prime minister
Mauritius' main airport is located in Plaine Magnien, 48 kilometres southeast of the country's capital, Port Louis. It is named after the country's first prime minister, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, and was previously known as Plaisance Airport.
The airport is the primary international airport serving the island nation of Mauritius. It offers direct flights to several destinations in Africa, Asia, Australia and Europe. It is also home to the country's national airline, Air Mauritius, which operates regular flights to Rodrigues Island.
The airport boasts several well-equipped facilities, including duty-free shops, restaurants, lounges, currency exchange, ATMs, food courts, in-airport shopping spaces, a luggage reclaim hall, and car rental services. The new terminal, which cost US$306 million, is designed to accommodate up to 4 million passengers and is environmentally conscious. It makes use of solar energy, rainwater recovery, natural elements, and thermo-insulated facades to reduce heat gain.
The airport's design is inspired by the "Traveller's Palm," a tropical plant native to Mauritius. This design choice symbolises the country's natural beauty, which includes white sand beaches, blue waters, and dramatic green mountain cliffs. Mauritius is also known for its multicultural population, a mixture of Africans, Indians, Chinese, and Europeans, contributing to its rich culture and history.
Piercings and Airport Security: Will I Beep?
You may want to see also
The airport has a capacity of 4 million passengers
The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport is the primary airport serving Mauritius. It is located in Plaine Magnien, 48 kilometres southeast of the capital city of Port Louis. The airport was previously known as the Plaisance Airport. It has direct flights to several destinations across the globe, including Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
The terminal's design is inspired by the "Traveller's palm," a tropical plant native to Mauritius. The airport incorporates various environmental and ecological features, such as the use of solar energy through photovoltaic cells, rainwater recovery, integration of nature within the building, and thermo-insulated facades to reduce heat gain.
The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport offers a range of facilities for passengers, including duty-free shops, restaurants, lounges, currency exchange services, and car rental services. The airport is easily accessible from Port Louis by road, with a distance of approximately 40 kilometres, and public buses also provide regular connections between the city and the airport.
Montana's Airport Count: How Many Are There?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The primary international airport in Mauritius is Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, located in Plaine Magnien, 48km southeast of the capital city of Port Louis.
The airport offers facilities such as duty-free shops, restaurants, lounges, currency exchange, ATMs, food courts, in-airport shopping, luggage reclaim, and car rental services.
To get to the airport from Port Louis, head in the southeast direction on the M2 Road for 40km and follow the signs to the airport. You can also take a public bus, which runs daily at half-hour intervals and costs approximately INR 300 per person.
