AIR SEYCHELLES CONFIRMS CHARTER PLANS FOR CHINESE MARKET
(Posted 27th November 2015)
Come end of January, subject to regulatory approvals from the Chinese aviation authorities, does Air Seychelles plan to launch regular weekly charters from China to Mahe, using their Airbus A330-200 for the intended nonstop service between Beijing and the archipelago. The 254 seats two class Airbus (18C / 236Y) would give Chinese tour operators enough seats each week to sell to holiday makers on a wholesale basis, helping to fill beds in resorts, hotels, guest houses and even selfcatering establishments across the islands.
China has already reached the 6th position as a leading source country for visitors and arrivals presently stand at 13.224, between the 01st of January 2015 to the end of last week, an increase of over 5 percent compared to 2014.
A charter operation would undoubtedly add significant extra numbers to that, one of the reasons why the Seychelles aviation authorities have given the green light to plan for the flight as of 26th January 2016, incidentally covered under the present bilateral air services agreement between the two countries.
Presently do Chinese visitors have to fly either with Air Seychelles from Hong Kong via Abu Dhabi to Mahe, with Etihad via Abu Dhabi to Mahe or with Emirates via Dubai to reach the islands. A nonstop service would cut several hours off the journey time while also lessening the risk of missing a connection due to bad weather or other reasons at the transit hub.
Air Seychelles’ Chairman of the Board, who is also the Seychelles Minister for Foreign Affairs and Transport, Mr. Joel Morgan, reportedly spoke of his hope that the flight would serve to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the close ties which now exist between China and Seychelles.
