Mauritius Post Ltd, more than just letters

75th Anniversary of International Civil Aviation Organization

Shop: Mauritius Post

Category: First Day Cover

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was established by states in 1944 to manage the administration and governance of the Convention on ICAO. Known more commonly today as the "Chicago Convention", this landmark agreement put in place the core principles permitting international transport by air and led to the creation of the specialized agency which has overseen it ever since - ICAO.

To mark the 75 Anniversary of ICAO on 7th December 2019, Mauritius Post is issuing a new stamp and first Day Cover.

Stamp - Denomination Rs25
The new stamp depicts an aircraft on the tarmac of the old airport, the new modern airport as well as the logo of ICAO.

First Day Cover (FDC)
The FDC illustrates the past and the modern airport as well as the logo of ICAO.

Aviation history and evolution - Major milestones
Below is a summarized text on the aviation history since its start and the rapid evolution which occurred for the benefits of mankind in their quest to travel abroad.

The first successful flight of a powered controlled and sustained flying machine was done by Orville and Wilbur Wright on 17 December 1903.
On 2 June 1922, the first aircraft was flown over Mauritius from Gymkhana ground at Vacoas.
On 10 September 1933 the first aircraft landed in Mauritius.
In 1936 the first international flight to Mauritius took ten days from Paris with stop-overs in Tunisia, Egypt, Djibouti and Madagascar.
In 1942 an Airport was built for the Royal Air Force at Plaisance.
On 24 November 1943, the first aircraft to land at Plaisance airport was a Dakota from the Royal Air Force.

Convention on International Civil Aviation

On 07 December 1944, 54 States met in Chicago to develop the Convention on International Civil Aviation (also known as Chicago Convention) and was signed by 52 states.
The Convention became effective on 04 April 1947 when a total of 26 States ratied the Convention.

Commercial Flights

On 10 February 1945, the first commercial flight started with a weekly flight from Madagascar to Mauritius via Reunion by the Reseau des Lignes Aeriennes Francaises which became Air France using Junkers 52 aircrafts capable of carrying 15 passengers and a crew of 3.
In 1946, the R.A.F handed over the Plaisance airport to the Mauritian authorities.
Within the new framework, the following flights occurred towards Mauritius:

in 1947 the first flight from Paris,
in 1948 the first flight from Australia by Qantas and
in 1962 the first flight from London was operated by BOAC.

On 14 June 1967 Air Mauritius started operating as a ground handling agent for other airlines.
In 1972 the first Air Mauritius flights were operated to nearby Reunion Island and Rodrigues. A year later (1973), Air Mauritius started a Mauritius /London flight via Nairobi.
Presently, Air Mauritius is operating direct flights with13 aircrafts to over 23 destinations.
A new airport terminal was constructed in 1987 and later a new building was erected in 2013 to accommodate the increasing number of passengers.
It is interesting to note that the number of passengers grew from 15,000 in 1968 to over 3 million in 2018.
Around 200 private jets also land at the airport in Mauritius every year.

Today, air transport is the safest mode of transport worldwide.

Source: Civil Aviation Department

Technical Details
Issuing Postal Operator : The Mauritius Post Ltd
Release date : 07 December 2019
Theme : 75th Anniversary of International Civil Aviation Organization
Graphic Works : The Mauritius Post Ltd (Stamp, FDC & Insert)
Stamp denomination : Rs 25
Format : Landscape
Stamp size : 45 x 30 mm
Printer : Southern Colour
Watermark : w18 - CASCO
Print process : Lithography
Number per sheet : Two panes of 25
Perforation : 14 x 2 cm
Courtesy : Civil Aviation Department

Price: Rs 110.00

Back to list