NEWLY INDEPENDENT AIR SEYCHELLES PERFORMS FIRST CHARTER FLIGHT FROM ROMANIA
(Posted 01st May 2021)
Air Seychelles has welcomed its first charter flight from Budapest, establishing a direct link between Romania and the Seychelles. Flight HM9353 landed at the Seychelles International Airport with 162 passengers at 9.50am under the command of Captain Kelvin Plows and First Officer Ashley Confait. The guests were tended to by Cabin Manager Jaqueline Confiance, Cabin Senior Kelpha Dailoo as well as Flight Attendant Christopher Dogley and Mike Maria.
A total of 37 passengers departed on the first positioning flight from Seychelles to Henri Coand? International Airport in Bucharest on Thursday, 29th of April, 2021. The non-stop flight operated by the airlines’ A320neo jetliner ‘Pti Merl Dezil’ proceeded over 8 hours. Upon disembarkation from the aircraft, passengers were greeted by a group of government, airport, tourism and trade representatives including a troupe of traditional Seychellois musicians in the arrival hall of the airport, courtesy of the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB).
Remco Althuis, Chief Executive Officer of Air Seychelles, said: “Due to the continuing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, passenger’s desire for more direct flights has become even more vital. We are thrilled to now be linking Bucharest with Seychelles for the first time, again fulfilling on our mandate to increase tourism to Seychelles. “Based on the success we have seen so far with this market, we anticipate more of these charters later in the year. As Air Seychelles is also constantly exploring new potential source markets, we look forward to announcing additional destinations in the near future.”
Present at the Seychelles International Airport for the landing of the first charter flight from Romania, Sherin Francis STB’ Chief Executive thanked the national airline for helping in making the destination more accessible to visitors. “We have noticed since last year pent up demand from the Eastern European countries. Air connectivity is crucial to help us convert those demands into sales of holidays to Seychelles. Thanks to Air Seychelles, we have managed to tap into this opportunity and we hope to be able to grow the business further from other countries of the same region together with our national airline,” said Mrs. Francis.
During their stay in the Seychelles, the visitors will be handled by specialist Destinations Management Company, 7°South of which Mrs. Anna Butler Payette, Managing Director, expressed that as part of the agenda for the visitors currently staying at properties both in Mahe and Praslin, will also comprise of excursions across the islands of Praslin and La Digue.
