It hasn’t been named the best airport in the Indian Ocean for nothing. For such a small island, the impressive experience at Mauritius International Airport is the equal to that of far bigger destinations. Here’s six reasons why Mauritius airport offers the perfect welcome or farewell to any holiday, and is the ideal business transit or stopover destination…

New passenger terminal

SSR International Airport’s new high tech glass-and-steel passenger terminal is the largest structure ever to be built in Mauritius, and was officially opened on 30 August 2013. Constructed from 140,000 tonnes of steel, the terminal was designed with sustainability and the comfort of passengers in mind, with a huge emphasis on natural light, space and ease of transit.

The Amédée Maingard lounge

Exclusively for the use of Air Mauritius Kestrelflyer gold card members and our codeshare partner equivalents, the Amédée Maingard lounge is a luxurious and cosy space. Designed across two levels, the lounge features a host of amenities including bar & buffet area, showers, a business centre, flat-screen TVs with international channels, and a kid’s corner and changing facilities for babies.

The ATOL lounge

Not a gold card carrying member? Never fear – you can still swap the hustle and bustle of the main passenger areas for a peaceful spot away from the crowd. The ATOL lounge welcomes customers with a boarding pass for a departing flight to a warm and relaxing space, with local and international newspapers and magazines, TV programmes and dining area.

Free wi-fi

It’s the one thing everybody wants in an airport, and here in Mauritius you can get fast and free wi-fi on tap. And if you don’t have a wi-fi enabled device on hand, there are free-to-use workstations with high-speed internet connectivity dotted throughout the terminal so you can keep on top of your emails while waiting to catch your flight.

Extensive dining and shopping

Five different dining areas offer the choice of a quick snack or a more leisurely meal before boarding your plane. With something for every taste, budget and transit time, options include breakfasts, desserts, snacks, drinks or more extensive meals for those with longer to wait. Friends and family also have access to restaurants and cafés in the public access area.

Brand new public zone

The fantastic new public mezzanine is a masterpiece of modern design, accessed via two staircases from the ground and first levels. This zone, which overlooks the arrivals hall, departure lounge and check-in hall features a range of cafés and restaurants and makes an ideal meeting place too.