First Mauritius - Rodrigues Flight, 13 September 1972

The first flight to Rodrigues operated by Air Mauritius was on 13 September 1972 by a Piper Navajo PA-31 leased from Air Madagascar.

This aircraft was the first Air Mauritius owned. Prior to that, it operated merely as a ground-handling agent for other airlines flying to Mauritius.  Today, Air Mauritius operates daily flights to an from Rodrigues using its ATR 72-500s.

First Flight Cover handstamped upon arrival in Rodrigues on 13 September 1972 itself.

Source: Aviation History in Mauritius, 2014.  http://pages.intnet.mu/fullspot/Aviation.htm

Technical Details:

Release date: 13 September 1972
Stamps: 10c – Theatre façade (from the 150th Anniversary of the Port Louis Theatre Issue of 26 June 1972)
             15c – Sea urchin, oursin (from the Marine Life Definitive Issue of 12 March 1969)