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Showing posts with label Seychelles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seychelles. Show all posts

Thursday, February 14, 2013

► SEYCHELLES: Air Berlin, Air Seychelles sign codeshare deal.

Air Berlinairberlin(AB), Europe’s seventh largest airline, and Air Seychelles (HM), the national airline of the Seychelles, today signed a codeshare agreement which will see Air Seychelles’ HM code placed on four of airberlin’s daily return services between Abu Dhabi Air Seychellesand Berlin, Düsseldorf complementing the island carrier’s existing 26 weekly codeshare connections with Etihad Airways (AY) to Frankfurt, Munich and Düsseldorf.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Negotiations opened with Air Seychelles, other carriers over possible start of Durban - Seychelles & India flights.

Air SeychellesSouth Africa's KwaZulu/Natal MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, Mike Mabuyakhulu, says that negotiations have been opened with Air Seychelles (HM) over the possible start of flights from Seychelles to the Indian Ocean city of Durban. Additionally, direct flights to India are also said to have been discussed with “a number” of airlines, as Durban is home to the largest population of Indians outside of India itself.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

► SOUTH AFRICA: Comair Ltd, SAA, SA Airlink set sights on regional expansion.

SAA logoComair LtdSouth African Airways (SA), its subsidiary SA Airlink (4Z) and competitor Comair Ltd, the British Airways franchise holder in South Africa in addition to owning LCC Kulula, have applied for new frequencies to the Democratic Republic of the Congo amongst other destinations as South African carriers seek to broaden their market bases.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

► SEYCHELLES: Air Austral adjusts La Réunion - Mahé from late March.

Air AustralLa Réunion-based carrier Air Austral (UU) is, during the Northern Summer 2013 season, to adjust its operations on the St. Denis de la Reunion – Seychelles route. 

Sunday, January 6, 2013

►► RÉUNION: Air Austral, Air France announce new flights following passage of Cyclone Dumile.

Air France logo
Air Austral[UPDATE 6 JANUARY] The passage of tropical Cyclone Dumile over the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius and Reunion have had their affect on the local aviation industry with Air France (AF) and Air Austral (UU) having to postpone and in some cases, cancel flights. Listed below are the reassigned flights.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

► SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles boosts Abu Dhabi, Johannesburg, Mauritius flights from Spring 2013.

Air SeychellesAir Seychelles (HM) has announced various changes to come into effect from 24 March 2013, in time for Northern Summer 2013. Amongst the changes are increased frequencies on its existing international routes, which will see an overall operation increment from 8 weekly to 14 weekly. 

Monday, November 12, 2012

► MAURITIUS: Air Seychelles to operate select A330 service to Mauritius in December 2012 & January 2013.

Air SeychellesAir Seychelles (HM) will operate a limited airbus A330-200 service between Mahé and Port Louis, Mauritius during the period December 2012 to January 2013 though only on selected dates. The route is currently operated with an Airbus A320.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

► HONG KONG: Air Seychelles to start 3x weekly Hong Kong via Abu Dhabi flights from 2013.

Air SeychellesSeychelles national carrier (HM), today announced intentions to start flights between Mahé, Seychelles and Hong Kong (SAR) China via Abu Dhabi, UAE effective February 2013.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

► SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles announces new Mahé - Praslin timetable.

Air SeychellesAir Seychelles (HM) has announced a new domestic schedule, effective October 28, which will see an increase in capacity between Mahé and Praslin by 38%.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

■ SEYCHELLES: Etihad partnership starting to pay off as Air Seychelles quarterly revenues up 23%.

Air SeychellesAir Seychelles (HM) has announced Q3 revenues of USD$13.8 million, up 23% on Q2, as the airline's restructuring programme, initiated in February of this year, took effect in the drive towards profitability for 2012.  The growth in revenues was led by a 51% quarter-on-quarter increase in passengers, up from 53,066 to 79,887, as seat factors rose from 43% to 60%.  Air Seychelles’ management team is confident that the airline will achieve its target of profitability in 2012, marking a major turnaround after several years of heavy losses.

Monday, September 10, 2012

► SEYCHELLES: Emirates to go 12x weekly from December, 13x weekly from February 2013.

EmiratesEmirates (EK) is to increase its Airbus A340-500 operated flights between Dubai and Mahé, Seychelles from 11x weekly, to 12x weekly with an added Monday flight effective 3 December 2012. From 5 February 2013, the airline is to add a 13th weekly frequency on a Tuesday.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

► SEYCHELLES: Blue Panorama to axe Mahé flights?

Blue PanoramaItalian private airline Blue Panorama Airlines (BV), which operates scheduled and charter flights to various global destinations, is to drop its Italy-Seychelles flights from "mid September" onwards, citing poor loads and passenger numbers, as the Italian economy continues to reel amid the ongoing Eurozone crisis.

Blue Panorama Boeing 767 in Mahè, Seychelles
Blue Panorama Boeing 767 in Mahè, Seychelles (Okke Behm)
The seasonal charter flights presently operate from Milan-Malpensa and Rome-Fiumicino.
"The tourist board and private sector have to talk to the travel agents and the tour operators to accept the situation and start using for instance Etihad and then connect from Abu Dhabi with Air Seychelles to Mahe. The alternative is to use Qatar Airways or Emirates to come here"

Italian Tourist Numbers in Seychelles [Click to Enlarge]
Italian Tourist Arrivals in Seychelles (NSB)
After Air Seychelles dropped its European routes in January of this year, Blue Panorama moved to fill the void left. However, the departure of Blue Panorama itself would mean there are no longer any direct flights between the Seychelles and Italy - historically a strong source of tourists for the islands.

No official confirmation from Blue Panorama itself has been heard as of publishing.

[UPDATE 31 AUGUST 2012] Amadeus lists the last flight out of Milan Malpensa as leaving on 3 September 2012, with the last flight leaving the Seychelles on 5 September 2012.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

► SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles increases Joburg flights from December.

Air SeychellesFollowing the arrival last week of their Airbus A330-200 with another due in January 2013, Air Seychelles has announced the increase in its frequencies to Johannesburg, South Africa from the current 2x weekly, to 4x weekly, effective 1 December 2012.

Saturday, July 7, 2012

► SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles receives first A330 (Pics).

Air SeychellesSeychellois carrier, Air Seychelles (HM), on Thursday received the first of its ex Jet Airways Airbus A330-200s. Touching down in Mahe after a flight from Abu Dhabi and piloted by an exclusively Seychellois crew, Aldabra, as the aeroplane has been christened, features the latest in on-board comfort with flat beds in business class and individual entertainment systems for every seat in economy class.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

► RÉUNION: Air Austral restructures Africa routes.

Air Austral
Troubled French carrier, Air Austral (UU), who last month announced the cancellation of several of its Provence France destinations as well as its Australia and New Caledonia routes, is to reorganize several of its African destinations, as it fights back from a miserable 2011 Financial Year, which saw it cancelling its order for two Airbus A380s.

Air Austral A380
A rendering of Air Austral's A380 (flightglobal)
The announced changes:
Air Austral
St. Denis de la Reunion – Dzaoudzi (Mayotte FOT) – Moroni (Comoros):

Twice weekly service moves from Tuesday & Sunday to Monday & Thursday.
  • UU255 RUN1100 – 1210DZA1310 – 1350HAH 738 14
  • UU256 HAH1450 – 1530DZA1650 – 1950RUN 738 14

St. Denis de la Reunion – Johannesburg (South Africa):
Operational schedule changes for the two weekly flights, moving from night-time to afternoon/evening hours, as well as moving from Thursday & Sunday to Monday & Thursday.
  • UU341 RUN1515 – 1725JNB 738 4
  • UU311 RUN1515 – 1725JNB 738 1
  • UU342 JNB1825 – 0015+1RUN 738 4
  • UU312 JNB1825 – 0015+1RUN 738 1

St. Denis de la Reunion – Nossi-Be (Madagascar) – Dzaoudzi (Mayotte FOT/Comoros)
Service increases from 2x to 3x weekly
  • UU203 RUN1100 – 1150NOS1235 – 1320DZA 738 257
  • UU204 DZA1520 – 1605NOS1650 – 1930RUN 738 257

St. Denis de la Reunion – Seychelles
Twice weekly service moving from Thursday & Saturday to Wednesday & Friday.
  • UU431 RUN0900 – 1140SEZ 738 3
  • UU451 RUN0900 – 1140SEZ 738 5
  • UU432 SEZ1230 – 1505RUN 738 3
  • UU452 SEZ1230 – 1505RUN 738 5
St. Denis de la Reunion – Toamasina (Madagascar)

Service reduces from 3x to 2x weekly.
  • UU555 RUN1530 – 1620TMM AT7 5
  • UU515 RUN1530 – 1620TMM AT7 1
  • UU556 TMM1705 – 1950RUN AT7 5
  • UU516 TMM1705 – 1950RUN AT7 1

Dzaoudzi (Mayotte FOT) – Mahajanga (Madagascar)

Twice weekly service moving from Wednesday & Friday to Wednesday & Saturday.
  • UU244 DZA1310 – 1355MJN 738 36
  • UU245 MJN1445 – 1530DZA 738 36

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

► SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles' crew complete Airbus A320/A330 training in Abu Dhabi.

Air SeychellesIn preparation for the introduction into service of the Airbus A330 and Airbus A320, Air Seychelles crew have recently completed their conversion courses for the types in Abu Dhabi, under the auspices of Etihad Airways.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

■ ROUTES AFRICA 2012: Workshop Brochure released.

The Routes Africa 2012 Symposium, to be held in Victoria, Seychelles - 8 July 2012 to 10 July 2012, has just released its Event Brochure available here.



Billed as the bringing together of route development professionals from across Africa, the Middle East and beyond to discuss the latest developments within the region and establish potential for new air traffic routes to, from and within Africa. This annual event is the only network development forum for the entire African region and, this year, will build on the successes of previous events.

Airlines confirmed thus far are:
  • Air Seychelles Ltd
  • Arik Air Ltd     
  • Emirates     
  • Etihad Airways     
  • Mega Maldives
  • Nasair
  • Qatar Airways
  • South African Airways
  • Turkish Airlines
Airport Operators confirmed thus far are:
  • Aeroportos De Mozambique 
  • Aeroports du Mali 
  • Bangalore International Airport
  • Copenhagen Airports A/S 
  • Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
  • Entebbe International Airport 
  • Frankfurt Airport
  • Ghana Airports Company Limited
  • Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport
  • Tanzania Airports Authority
 For More Info & To Register for Routes Africa 2012, Click Here.

► SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles boosts Mahe - Abu Dhabi service to 8x weekly; joins Etihad's FF program.

Air SeychellesSeychellois national carrier, Air Seychelles (HM), has increased its frequencies between Mahe and Abu Dhabi to 8x weekly, using codeshared flights with partner airline Etihad. The flights will be operated by four times by an Etihad A320 and four times by an Air Seychelles A330-200 leased from Etihad.

Monday, April 30, 2012

■ ROUTES AFRICA 2012: Registration Now Open.

Registration for Routes Africa 2012, the bringing together of airline route planners, airports and tourism authorities to discuss new and existing air services within Africa, to be held in Victoria, Seychelles this year from 8 July 2012 to 10 July 2012. 

The event will be hosted by the Seychelles Tourism Board in partnership with the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority.

On the agenda this year will be  "Unlocking the market – Liberalization Vs. Competition", "Safety, Security & Standards" and "The Road to Recovery – Rebuilding & Looking to the Future".
 
Latest reports state that Etihad, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Air Seychelles, Arik Air and South African Airlines have already registered, whilst airports scheduled to attend include those from Mozambique, Ghana and Tanzania, with Dallas Fort-Worth and Copenhagen also on the roster. 

This year will also see the likely participation of cruise companies according to Seychellois Minister for Tourism and Culture Alain St. Ange, for whom, Africa and in particular, the Indian Ocean, is a large market.

This annual event is the only network development forum for the entire African region and, this year, will build on the successes of previous events.

For More Info & To Register for Routes 2012, Click Here.

Friday, April 27, 2012

► SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles - first A320/A330 flights in May.

Air SeychellesAir Seychelles (HM) will operate its first flights using the A320 & A330 in May according to blog sources. This comes after Etihad acquired a 40% stake in the Indian Ocean Island airline back in February, whereby one of the key points laid out for immediate attention, was the issue of fleet renewal, and a return to profitability for the ailing airline.