AirAsia X (D7, Kuala Lumpur International) has announced its withdrawal from the African market with effect from March 25 of this year.

Arik De, Chief Head of Commercial for AirAsia (AK, Kuala Lumpur International), told Panapress in a statement that the decision to end flights to Mauritius was based on the need to deploy capacity to its strongest markets.

“The suspension of the Mauritius route is a part of the company’s big plan in network restructuring aimed at improving operational efficiencies in term of aircraft utilizations," it said. "It is also to accelerate capacity growth in AirAsia X key markets of Australia, China, Taiwan, Japan and Korea."

AirAsia X began flights to the Indian Ocean island in October last year using A330-300 equipment. Insofar as competition to Kuala Lumpur International is concerned, it came up against Air Mauritius (MK, Mauritius).