Air Seychelles to Launch Flights to Paris, France

Air Seychelles has unveiled plans to launch flights to Paris-Orly as part of a significant expansion to its international schedule.

Plans for an optimised regional network include the introduction of several new routes in 2014.

From February 2014, Air Seychelles will operate two return services per week between Seychelles and Paris-Orly via Abu Dhabi with an Airbus A330-200 aircraft, configured with 18 flat-bed Business Class seats and 236 Economy seats.

The new Paris-Orly services, which are subject to regulatory approval, complement Etihad Airways’ existing double-daily services to Paris-Charles De Gaulle, giving travellers between the French capital and Abu Dhabi a choice of more flights per week, and new convenient connections to key destinations in the Etihad Airways network such as Ho Chi Minh, Bangkok and Chengdu, as well as the cities across the Middle East.

Joel Morgan, Seychelles’ Minister for Home Affairs & Transport and Board Chairman, said, “I am delighted to see Air Seychelles return to France, Seychelles’ top market. Travellers boarding the flight in Paris-Orly will once again enjoy a seamless Air Seychelles operated flight and experience our unique and famous Creole warmth on their entire journey to Mahé ... With our new service, we will be able to provide a fresh option for overseas visitors to travel to Seychelles on our flights, and we expect further significant growth from Europe.”

Currently, the iconic island carrier codeshares on 14 flights per week to Paris-Charles De Gaulle with equity partner Etihad Airways, offering a daily service between the archipelago and the French capital. The new flights will increase the connections to 18 per week.

The airline also unveiled a new regional network plan, subject to approvals, which will see significant expansion of its operations in the Indian Ocean in Q4 2014, following the delivery of an Airbus A319.

Highlights of the plan include:

• The launch of regional services to Antananarivo, Reunion and Mumbai

• An increase in services to Abu Dhabi from seven to eleven per week, offering a double daily service with equity partner Etihad Airways

• A network designed to maximise connectivity through the Seychelles, with two way connectivity throughout the region with Mumbai and Abu Dhabi and beyond.

The new regional schedule will see Air Seychelles operate three return flights per week to Mauritius and Mumbai, two return flights per week to Antananarivo and Reunion, and 11 return flights per week to Abu Dhabi.

The airline will also offer three return flights per week to Hong Kong, three return flights per week to Johannesburg, and two flights per week to Paris-Orly.

Altogether, the airline will see its weekly international services nearly double from 16 to 29 flights per week.

Cramer Ball, Air Seychelles Chief Executive Officer, said, “The new schedule will see Air Seychelles spread its regional footprint and build a solid position that will establish us as the carrier of choice in the Indian Ocean. It also greatly increases options for travel to and from the Indian Ocean, and with our new flights to Paris-Orly, we will also enjoy network feed provided by our convenient schedule times over Abu Dhabi, contributing to the bottom line.”