[2] It replaced Air Mauritanie, the former national airline, which had suffered from prolonged financial difficulties and had been liquidated in October of the same year.

In November 2010, the airline was banned from European airspace by the European Commission, quoting "persisting deficiencies in its operations and maintenance",[5] thus losing the rights to continue its scheduled services to Paris-Orly Airport, France and Gran Canaria Airport, Spain.

[6] Again, a new Mauritanian flag carrier was formed, this time called Mauritania Airlines International;[7] this airline was subsequently announced in the April 2012 European Commission press release (19th update) as having been added to the European list of banned air carriers.

[8] As of January 2010, Mauritania Airways offered scheduled flights to the following destinations: Upon its closure in December 2010, the Mauritania Airways fleet consisted of the following aircraft:[9] On 28 July 2010 at 01:30 local time, Mauritania Airways Flight 620 from Dakar, Senegal to Conakry, Guinea, which was operated using a Boeing 737-700 (registered TS-IEA), overran the runway upon landing in heavy rain at Conakry International Airport.

Approximately 10 persons amongst the 91 passengers and six crew members on board suffered injuries, but there were no fatalities, even though the aircraft was substantially damaged and declared a hull loss; the first of a Boeing 737-700.