SEYCHELLES SIGN NEW BASA WITH ITALY
(Posted 02nd March 2015)
Seychelles’ Civil Aviation CEO Gilbert Faure last week signed a new Bilateral Air Services Agreement on behalf of the Seychelles’ government with Italy which was represented at the function by Maria Francolini, Director for International Relations at the Italian Ministry for Transport. The new agreement replaces an earlier one which was signed over three decades ago and no longer catered for today’s needs of airlines to fly to and from multiple points, tapping into traffic potential where it exists and not where government agreements dictate airlines to fly from. Notably does the agreement provide for charters, giving sections of the archipelago’s tourism and hospitality industry hope for the resumption of nonstop flights from key Italian hubs like Milan or Rome directly to Mahe.
In 2012 did Air Seychelles halt their flights from Milan and Rome when the airline underwent major restructuring aimed to stem losses incurred from European operations. Italy has been and remains a major source market for tourist visitors to the Seychelles’ islands even though flights, since the sudden halt of operations by Blue Panorama in 2012 which came in the wake of Air Seychelles’ withdrawal from Italy, now route via alternate way points.
Air Seychelles, in partnership with Etihad, now offers code shared operations in conjunction with Alitalia while Emirates flies double daily from Dubai to Mahe, arguably offering the widest choices of any airline from their Italian destinations.
The Seychelles’ Tourism Board this week exhibits at ITB 2015 in Berlin, the world’s largest consumer and travel trade fair and additional information about the destination can be found via www.seychelles.travel
