Air Mauritius has announced the departure of its CEO, Charles Cartier, after less than a year in the role. Cartier stepped down following his non-re-election to the Board of Directors, marking yet another leadership change at the airline in a short period. He had been appointed in March 2024, succeeding Krešimir Kučko, who resigned after just nine months amid a corruption investigation, as reported by Travel News.
Interim Leadership and Management Oversight
In response to Cartier’s departure, Air Mauritius has established a managing committee with executive powers to oversee operations until a new CEO is appointed. The committee includes Kremchand Beegoo (Chairman), Suresh Seeballuck, and Appalsamy Thomas.
Since assuming the role of Chairman, Beegoo has been vocal about the airline’s financial difficulties. Earlier this year, in an internal communication to staff, he warned of significant changes ahead. Local newspaper Le Mauricien published excerpts from his letter, in which he emphasized the need for urgent decisions to stabilize the airline’s financial standing.
Financial Struggles and the Path Forward
Beegoo’s message outlined the airline’s precarious situation, stating: “We cannot continue to operate as a legacy airline, relying on continuous state financial support. Asking the government for funds means taking money from the Mauritian public. We must ensure that public money does not continue to disappear into a black hole.” He described the financial state as “extremely grave” and stressed that the airline needed an equity-based cash injection rather than accumulating further debt.
With the airline facing ongoing financial pressures, the coming months will be critical in determining the future direction of Air Mauritius. Industry observers will be closely watching how the leadership transition unfolds and whether the airline can implement necessary reforms to secure its long-term viability.
