Air Seychelles adds Ho Chi Minh City through codeshare with Etihad

AIR SEYCHELLES ANNOUNCES NEW CODESHARE DEAL TO VIETNAM

(Posted 12th November 2013)

Air Seychelles, the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles, earlier today announced a further expansion of its codeshare agreement with Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for travel to Vietnam via Abu Dhabi. The expanded agreement will see Air Seychelles place its ‘HM’ code on Etihad Airways’ daily service to Ho Chi Minh City, offering a total of 17 connections between Mahé and Ho Chi Minh City on the combined Air Seychelles and Etihad Airways network between Abu Dhabi and Seychelles.

Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive Officer, Cramer Ball, said: ‘We are thrilled to offer Ho Chi Minh City to the travelling public and to extend our presence in the strategically important ASEAN market. With our sub two-hour connections over Abu Dhabi, we now offer the fastest connections to Seychelles from Vietnam. We expect the new flights to attract holiday makers as well as business travellers from this thriving city of nine million, and the new ties will open up export and cargo opportunities between the two countries.’

The new codeshare deal follows the recent signing of an air services agreement between Seychelles and Vietnam during a State visit by Seychelles President James Michel in September.

Seychelles’ Minister for Home Affairs and Transport, Joel Morgan who is also the Chairman of Air Seychelles, was quoted in a media release as having said: ‘I am delighted Air Seychelles has been able to get its codeshare to Ho Chi Minh City with Etihad Airways approved quickly. This is a clear demonstration of the value of the partnership between Air Seychelles, Etihad Airways, and our own Civil Aviation Authority, to work together to open new markets for the Seychelles. The positive impact created by the increased connections provided by Air Seychelles and Etihad Airways, on tourism, employment and other economic sectors, is unmistakable’.

The new codeshare flights can be booked online at airseychelles.com, through the airline’s Call Centre on +248 4 38 10 13, at the airline’s sales offices in the Seychelles and their destination offices, or through any travel agency.

The following flight schedules apply for the code shared service from AUH to SGN and back: