■ DUBAI: Emirates appoints Orhan Abbas as Senior VP for its Southern & Central Africa, Latin American Commercial operations.

Emirates (EK) has appointed Orhan Abbas its Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Latin America, Central and Southern Africa. In his new role he will oversee a number of markets, including South Africa, Angola, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, the Indian Ocean islands Mauritius and Seychelles, and Latin American markets Brazil and Argentina.

■ VIETNAM: Seychelles, Vietnam sign a Bilateral Air Services Agreement and various other MoUs.

During a state visit to Vietnam at the end of August, Seychellois President, Mr James Michel, and Vietnam's President, Mr Truong Tan Sang, witnessed the signing of five Memoranda of Understanding involving bilateral cooperation between the Republic of Seychelles and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam of which one pertained to a Bilateral Air Services Agreement.

■ SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles posts very strong 2Q & 1H2013 Financial results.

Air Seychelles (HM) has announced a strong second quarter (Q2) and half-year financial performance, reflecting continued solid growth and success in its turnaround strategy. Overall, during the quarter, the Seychellois national carrier posted total revenues of USD26.03 million (up from USD10.87million in 2012), a significant increase of 139%. Total revenues for the first half of 2013 reached USD42.05million (2012: USD18.76million), up by 124%.

► SEYCHELLES: SriLankan Airlines eyeing a 3x weekly Colombo - Seychelles and on to Nairobi service.

After the recent signing of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement between the two countries, the Seychellois Ministry of Home Affairs and Transport has announced tentative plans by Sri Lanka's national carrier, SriLankan Airlines (UL) to commence services between Colombo, Mahé and possibly Nairobi in October 2013.

► SEYCHELLES: Kenya Airways adds extra flight to Mahé until late August.

Kenya Airways (KQ) has increased its services between Nairobi and Mahé, Seychelles with effect from July 6 until August 31. The new flight operates on Saturdays and is expected to handle the anticipated rise in demand for flights to the island. Equipment on this route varies according to demand.

■ SEYCHELLES: Sri Lanka, Seychelles sign BASA; SriLankan Airlines "keen" on flights.

Following bilateral discussions held between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his Seychelles counterpart James Alix Michel on June 30, in Mahé, Sri Lanka and Seychelles signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation, a Bilateral Air Services Agreement and a MoU on Vocational Training and Youth Development.

■ SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles outsources some of its accounting needs to Accelya Kale.

Air Seychelles (HM), the national carrier of Seychelles, has selected Accelya Kale Solutions Limited, part of the Accelya Group,  to handle the outsourcing of its Passenger Revenue Accounting, Cargo Revenue Accounting, Airmail Revenue Accounting and Miscellaneous (Non-Transport) Billing to Accelya Kale. The transactions are being processed on Accelya Kale’s proprietary platforms – REVERA and FinesseMBS.

■ SEYCHELLES: Hong Kong, Seychelles sign Bilateral Air Services Agreement.

Hong Kong and Seychelles have announced the signing of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) which will provide the necessary legal framework for establishing direct air links between the two places. At present, Air Seychelles (HM) serves Hong Kong via Abu Dhabi under the auspices of a codeshare agreement.

► DUBAI: Emirates outlines African routes to be affected by closure of DXB runway 12L/30R in 2014.

With Dubai International Airport's Northern runway 12L/30R nearing the end of its designed lifespan and therefore requiring rehabilitation and upgrading, Emirates (EK) has outlined its planned service reduction set to come into effect from May 1, 2014 and ending July 20, 2014. The following list contains the affected African flights:

► SEYCHELLES: Air Austral axes Réunion - Mahé flights from June.

As part of its route rationalization initiative, Réunion-based carrier, Air Austral (UU), will terminate its now weekly St. Denis de la Reunion – Seychelles service with effect from June 5.

► SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles inks codeshare with CSA Czech Airlines; Etihad codeshare now includes Australia

Air Seychelles has announced two new codesharing developments. Firstly, it has extended its codeshare agreement with equity alliance partner Etihad Airways (EY) to include new connections to Australia on Etihad flights operated via Abu Dhabi. Secondly, a new codeshare deal has been reached Czech carrier, CSA Czech Airlines (OK), in which passengers of the two airlines will be able to book and travel between Prague and the Seychelles on one ticket, while connecting via Abu Dhabi.

► SEYCHELLES: Qatar Airways to axe Seychelles flights from September.

Qatar Airways (QR) are set to abandon their daily A319-operated flights to Mahé, Seychelles with effect from 01SEP.

■ SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles goes with Envision for fleet & maintenance management.

Seychelleois national carrier, Air Seychelles (HM), have awarded a contract to Rusada  for the use of its Envision suite for fleet and maintenance management. With the expansion of the airline and its route structure after the investment from and code sharing with Etihad (EY) and it's partner airlines, the need for a modern and comprehensive fleet management solution was identified by Air Seychelles' management team.

► SEYCHELLES: Air Force takes delivery of first Do-228 Patrol aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics.

The Seychelles Air Force has taken delivery of a Dornier 228 patrol aircraft following a donation from the government of India as agreed to under an agreement signed between the two nations in 2011 in which India would provide a once-off grant of USD28.79 million for the supply of the maritime aircraft.  A further aircraft is due in 2014.

► SEYCHELLES: South African Airways, Air Seychelles sign codeshare deal.

Air Seychelles (HM), the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles, today announced that it has entered into a codeshare agreement with South African Airways (SAA), the national airline of the Republic of South Africa. The first phase of the agreement will see South African Airways place its “SA” code on Air Seychelles’ non-stop flights between Johannesburg and Seychelles. South African Airways will also place its code on flights between the two largest islands of Seychelles, Mahé and Praslin, subject to approvals.

► RÉUNION: Air Austral outlines its Summer 2013 timetable; added Paris CDG flights due in November.

La Réunion-based French carrier, Air Austral (UU), has outlined its planned Northern Summer 2013 timetable, which runs from 31 March to 26 October 2013, and which aims to optimize its flight schedule in order to help return the airline to break-even during the 2013/2014 Financial Year.

■ SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles officially announces $1mln profit for FY2012/2013.

Following three years of losses, Air Seychelles (HM), the national airline of the Seychelles, today officially reported a net profit of USD1million for its 2012/2013 Financial Year. The positive result comes just 12 months after Abu Dhabi carrier Etihad Airways (EY) acquired a 40 per cent stake in the airline and was awarded a five year management contract. The result beats Etihad's original expectations in which the Gulf carrier projected Air Seychelles to turn a profit albeit within the first 24 months of operation.

■ SEYCHELLES: One year on from Etihad tie up deal, Air Seychelles posts first profit (unofficially).

One year on from when Abu Dhabi-based carrier, Etihad Airways (EY), signed a Memorandum of Understanding to acquire a 40 per cent stake in then struggling Air Seychelles (HM), the Seychellois airline has unofficially posted a USD1million profit.

► SEYCHELLES: (Media) Air Seychelles' second A330 touches down in Mahé.

Air Seychelles' (HM) second Airbus A330-200 (MSN ? | A6-EYZ), christened Vallée de Mai, this afternoon touched down at Seychelles International Airport, Mahé. The aircraft made its first test flight in February and will now enter active service on Air Seychelles’ new international schedule, which includes new services to Hong Kong and increased frequencies to Abu Dhabi, Johannesburg and Mauritius.

■ SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles, Seychelles Tourism Board sign MoU to promote the archipelago worldwide.

Air Seychelles (HM) and the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at increasing Seychelles’ visibility as a destination around the world by leveraging the airline’s expanding international network and growing number of airline partners.