Emirates, a global connector of people and places Monday launched its 24th A380 route, working with its partners in Mauritius to say “Hello A380” in style.

At the airport ceremony to welcome the first daily A380 service, Emirates signed a new and enhanced 10-year commercial cooperation agreement with Air Mauritius, and a renewed memorandum of understanding with the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority.

The A380 allows Emirates to bring an extra 153 passengers each day to the island set in middle of the Indian Ocean. It is the first airline in the world to operate an A380 service to a destination in the Indian Ocean.

Travel demand to the island is growing, and Emirates in 2012 carried over 350,000 passengers and 6,000-ton cargo between Mauritius and its global network of 130-plus destinations spanning 78 countries.

The inaugural A380 daily service arrived at Mauritius’ Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport with over 500 passengers and VIP delegation from Emirates, including Thierry Antinori, EVP and chief commercial officer; Adnan Kazim, divisional SVP, planning, aeropolitical and industry affairs; Majid Al-Mualla, divisional SVP, commercial operations, Center (GCC, Middle East, Iran & West Asia) and Orhan Abbas, SVP, commercial operations (South America, and central and southern Africa).

It was met on landing by the Michael Sik Yuen, minister of tourism and leisure, Mauritius; Andre Viljoen, CEO Air Mauritius; Anand Kinnoo, acting director of civil aviation, Mauritius; and Rohit Ramnawaz, chairman, Airport of Mauritius.

“Since August 2008, Emirates has served over 18 million passengers on our A380s. Our customers love it, and we continue to see a big demand to fly on the aircraft,” said Antinori.