ETHIOPIAN’S RETURN TO SEYCHELLES GIVES STAR ALLIANCE ANOTHER DESTINATION
(Posted 04th September 2014)
The return to the Seychelles with three flights per week, starting on 28th of September after an absence of half a year, will give Star Alliance an added destination in their global network, the only global alliance to then offer flights to the archipelago. Flights from ADD to SEZ will operate every Friday, Sunday and Monday using a B737-800NG aircraft and connect the entire global Ethiopian network to the archipelago. Notably will the airline offer added seats from across Africa to reach Mahe which after the halt of flights in March was clearly underserved. Tourism stakeholders have already vested much hope in the renewed connection as Ethiopian will be connecting Mahe with Paris, a key source market for tourists from Europe but also other European destinations which will need just one stop to reach the islands. To sweeten the deal of booking flights from France to the Seychelles with Ethiopian has the airline put a special honeymoon offer on the market when travelling in business class. The newlyweds will have to pay for only one ticket in full and get a second business class ticket for free, apart from having to pay regulatory charges like airport taxes which should boost demand for travel to the Seychelles which is a globally renowned honeymoon destination.
Small business stakeholders operating guest houses, holiday lets and self-catering establishments have been particularly keen for more air seats to boost their occupancies and they are often targeting the African mainland markets where affordable holidays are in demand. Tourism associations have been vocal in the recent past for more air connections from the island and in particular have they asked for more nonstop flights to Europe, but until that can happen they now have the next best option with the renewed flights by Ethiopian.
