Agalega Island Airstrip (AHG)

Agalega Island Airstrip (MU-0001 (AHG)) serves as a critical link for the remote Agalega Islands, primarily for strategic, administrative, and essential services rather than commercial tourism. Recent major infrastructural upgrades, completed in February 2024 with funding from India, have significantly modernized the facilities, enhancing connectivity and security for the islands' inhabitants and operations. Traveler reviews in the traditional sense are non-existent, as general tourism is not yet established, and entry requires prior government permission.

What Travelers (or essential personnel/residents) Love:

• Enhanced Connectivity: The newly inaugurated 3 km long, 60-meter-wide concrete airstrip is designed for all-weather operations and can accommodate larger aircraft, including Boeing 737-900 and Airbus A-321. This significantly improves air access to the remote islands.
• Modern Infrastructure: The upgraded facilities include an air traffic control tower, a passenger terminal building, and an aircraft hangar. A new jetty also provides essential services like fresh water, firefighting, electricity, and crane facilities.
• Improved Safety & Security: The new airstrip and jetty are vital for strengthening maritime security, enabling better surveillance of Mauritius's Exclusive Economic Zone, and supporting counter-piracy, counter-terrorism, and anti-narcotics efforts.
• Support for Local Population: The developments are intended to improve the ease of living for Agalega's approximately 300-350 residents, facilitating medical evacuations and enhancing administrative connections with mainland Mauritius.

Common Complaints (Limitations for Tourism):

• Limited Public Access: Agalega Island is not accessible to general tourists, requiring prior permission from the Ministry of External Affairs and Immigration in Port Louis.
• Lack of Tourist-Oriented Facilities: Due to its non-commercial nature, the island lacks the typical amenities and infrastructure for mass tourism, offering a rustic and untouched experience for the few who visit for administrative or academic purposes.
• Previously Basic Airstrip: Prior to the recent upgrades, the airstrip was a basic landing strip of compressed coal and sand, only suitable for small aircraft, and sea access was constrained by inadequate jetty infrastructure.

Overall, the Agalega Island Airstrip has undergone a transformative upgrade, shifting from a rudimentary facility to a modern, all-weather airstrip and jetty. While this significantly benefits the local population and strategic operations, the island remains a destination focused on its natural rusticity and administrative importance, rather than a conventional tourist spot.