By Simple flying
Air Seychelles (HM) and Qatar Airways (QR) have signed a codeshare agreement for the two carriers to enhance operations with one ticket to and from the Seychelles. Qatar Airways, which maintains its daily flight to Victoria Seychelles International Airport (SEZ), will then place its flight number on the regional carrier’s sole domestic scheduled flight to Praslin, home of a UNESCO World Heritage Sight, Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve.
Captain Sandy Benoiton, Air Seychelles Acting Chief Executive Officer, noted the below as part of the QR press release:
“This new partnership will provide passengers with new connection opportunities and access to unique destinations from both networks.”
A ticket to paradise
Qatar Airways, which currently competes with the two other Middle-Eastern carriers, Emirates and Etihad, for travelers to the Seychelles, hopes to capitalize on the partnership with Air Seychelles, enhancing the customer experience by offering onward travel within the Seychelles on one ticket.
Qatar Airways maintains a solo daily flight to the Seychelles archipelago, with a morning departure and late evening return flight operated by the carriers Boeing 777-200LR.
QR678, departing Doha at 02:45, arriving at Victoria, Seychelles by 08:30
QR679, taking off from Victoria at 20:15, touching down at 23:55 in Doha
As noted in the QR press statement, the airline’s Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, noted
“Our strategy of facilitating connectivity to African markets through partnerships is in line with this enhanced cooperation with Air Seychelles. Our two airlines are pleased to work together to benefit passengers with more travel choices and to support the tourism industry in Seychelles.”
Indian Ocean’s leading airline
At the World Travel Awards, recently hosted in Kenya, Air Seychelles was crowned the ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline,’ which maintains a moderate operation from its base at Seychelles International Airport (Aéroport de la Pointe Larue). The carrier currently operates to and from:
Colombo–Bandaranaike (begins 20 June 2023)
Johannesburg–O. R. Tambo
Mauritius (Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport MRU)
Mumbai
Praslin Island
Tel Aviv
Almaty (Seasonal)
Malé (Seasonal)
In addition to charter flights to Alphonse Island, Bird Island, D’Arros Island, Denis Island, Desroches Island, and Frégate Island.
The carrier’s modest fleet of two Airbus A320s and five Viking Twin Otter turboprops do all the heavy lifting for the airline, so a partnership with oneworld heavyweight Qatar Airways is hoped to succeed. Air Seychelles also remains a partner of the ‘Vanilla Alliance,’ an alliance established for carriers in the Indian Ocean, including:
Air Austral (UU)
Air Madagascar (MD)
Air Mauritius (MK)
Comoros Int’Air Îles (I7)
Seychelles International Airport
Located 11 kilometers (6.8 mi) southwest of the country’s capital, Victoria, the nation’s leading gateway contains a modest domestic and international terminal. The airport’s apron was extended in the early 2000s to accommodate the majority of airlines that remain at the airport during the day. Many international carriers (such as QR) arrive early before departing late that evening, optimizing their connections within their networks and reducing the chance of jetlag for passengers.
Other international carriers that frequent year-round include Aeroflot, Air Austral, Emirates, Etihad, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, and Sri Lankan Airlines.
