ROUTES AFRICA ENTERS REGISTRATION PHASE
Key airlines flying to the Seychelles, where the 2012 edition of Routes Africa is being held this year in July, have already committed themselves for participation. Amongst them are Air Seychelles and their partner Etihad, Qatar Airways, Emirates and South African Airways, with other airlines flying to Mahe and into Africa reportedly also considering their participation.
It is generally thought that there is a deficit in inter-island connections between the main Indian Ocean islands of Seychelles, Mauritius, La Reunion, Madagascar, Mayotte and the Comoros but also a deficit of flights from the African mainland to the islands, while no direct airlinks exist at all with Sri Lanka and the Maldives, which can only be reached through the hubs of the Gulf carriers which fly to Seychelles and Mauritius. The Seychelles meeting is set to discuss these anomalies and map out strategies of how to promote greater air links and stimulate traffic.
The Seychelles tourism delegation to the Arabian Travel Market, going underway later today and lasting until 03rd of May inclusive, will also take the opportunity to promote participation in Routes Africa amongst other airlines, Civil Aviation Authorities, airports, national tourism offices and other target groups attending ATM 2012, whose presence in Victoria between 08th and 10th of July will be valuable to discuss the future of air traffic developments for Africa and the Indian Ocean islands. Watch this space.
