SEYCHELLES SIGNS NEW BASA WITH INDIA
(Posted 20th September 2014)
The new bilateral air services agreement, in short BASA, between the Seychelles and India, is the fifth signed this year already, all aimed at paving the way for more flights to and from Mahe. Earlier in the week did the Seychelles also sign a similar agreement with Cambodia.
The new agreement now allows for the start of flight from designated airlines from each country and Air Seychelles was first out of the blocks when announcing a three times a week service to Mumbai starting on 02nd December.
Until that date will travelers either use the most direct route with Mihin Lanka via Colombo, or else have to travel with one of the Gulf airlines through their hubs in either Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
India, with about 2.500 visitors a year to the Seychelles, an increase of nearly 10 percent on a year by year basis, is considered an emerging market and more flights will no doubt help to bring more tourists and trade visitors to the archipelago. The Seychelles last year launched the first ever India – Seychelles Day weekend festival, this year taking place from 03rd to 05th of October, one of the colourful recent additions to the calendar of popular events and festivals, pulling in the crowds.
Notably has immediate former Air Seychelles CEO Cramer Ball joined Jet Airways in India as CEO, after Etihad had acquired a significant stake in the carrier and it is expected that discussions are ongoing between the two airlines, under the likely auspices of Etihad, to engage in a codeshare which will expand Air Seychelles reach beyond Mumbai while Jet can benefit from the new destinations announced by Air Seychelles, namely Dar es Salaam and Madagascar, but also Mauritius and Johannesburg.
Usually reliable sources from Victoria have also suggested that more BASA’s will be signed before the end of the year.
In a related development have regular sources remained silent though on the status of the application of the new privately owned airline which a few weeks ago reportedly applied for an air service license. This has ever since been a matter of intense speculation if at all the new kid on the block will in fact be given a license at this moment in time when the government owned Air Seychelles is trying to expand and could do without the interference of competition. Watch this space for regular and breaking news from the aviation industry across the Indian Ocean islands.
