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Air Seychelles

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Air Seychelles
IATA ICAO Call sign
HM SEY SEYCHELLES
Founded15 September 1977 (1977-09-15)
HubsSeychelles International Airport
AllianceVanilla Alliance
Fleet size7
Destinations12
Parent companyGovernment of Seychelles
HeadquartersMahé, Seychelles
Key peopleRemco Althuis (CEO)
RevenueIncrease US$ 106.9 million (2014)[1]
ProfitIncrease US$ 8.4 million (2022)[2]
Employees650 (2014)[1]
Websitewww.airseychelles.com

Air Seychelles is the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles. Its head office is located at Seychelles International Airport on the island of Mahé and it operates inter-island and international flights and charter flights.

History

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A former Air Seychelles Boeing 767-300ER in the airline's older livery.
A former Air Seychelles Airbus A330-200 landing at Hong Kong International Airport.

Establishment

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Seychelles Airlines was formed as the national airline of Seychelles on 15 September 1977 by merging two local carriers: Air Mahé and Inter-Island Airways. It was named Air Seychelles in September 1978.[3][4] The airline began international routes in 1983 to Frankfurt and London.[5]

Investment

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In February 2012, the United Arab Emirates national carrier, Etihad Airways, invested US$45 million in Air Seychelles for a 40% share in the airline following problems of management and profitability. After operating at a loss for two years in a row, Air Seychelles planned to restructure and re-position itself to return to profit. The airline entered into codeshare agreements with Etihad Airways and started flying to Abu Dhabi in March 2012 to connect to Etihad Airways' network of destinations.[6]

On 16 March 2012, Air Seychelles announced a two-year business plan including the renewal of its fleet, leveraging Etihad Airways equity partnership – known as Etihad Airways Partners (which also includes Alitalia, Air Serbia and Virgin Australia), the introduction of Airbus A330−200 aircraft after over two decades of an all-Boeing fleet, increased frequencies to key destinations, and closer cooperation with Etihad Airways.[6]

On 12 March 2015, Air Seychelles released their results for 2014, declaring US$3.2 million in net profits.[6]

Restructuring

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In January 2018, Air Seychelles announced the closure of its sole long-haul route (Paris), the return of its two Airbus A330 long-haul aircraft, and a focus on its regional network.[7] The plan is aimed at ensuring the long-term profitability and sustainability for the airline, in response to rapidly increasing competition. Remco Althuis, Interim CEO, said, 'The launch of competing air services from Europe to Seychelles will significantly impact Air Seychelles' flights to and from Paris, which account for approximately 30% of total passenger revenue at the airline, making the route unsustainable.' The airline will refocus on its domestic and regional networks, with a reduced workforce.[8]

Corporate affairs

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Ownership

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Air Seychelles was established and originally owned by the Government of Seychelles, having purchased and merged several small aircraft operators into one airline. Following problems of management and profitability, Etihad Airways acquired a 40 percent stake in Air Seychelles in 2012, in a deal worth $45m. On 1 May 2021 it was announced Etihad Airways sold its 40% stake back to the Government of Seychelles.[9]

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The key trends for Air Seychelles over recent years are shown below (as at year ending 31 December):

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Turnover (US$m) 42.8 88.7 106.9 105.4
Net Profits (US$m) 1.1 3.0 3.2 2.1
Number of employees (at year end) 536 629 650 727 787 725
Number of passengers (000s) 241 352 412 523 550 455
Passenger load factor (%) 50 60 66
Number of aircraft (at year end) 10 10 7
Notes/sources [10][11] [1][12][13] [14] [15][16] [17] [18][19]

Services

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Air Seychelles VIP is a specialised facility offering services for VIP passengers, aircraft crew and aeronautical technical support, including fixed-base operation which is managed in conjunction with Royal Jet.[20][needs update?]

The Air Seychelles Plus Programme has been fully integrated into Etihad Guest, the loyalty programme of Etihad Airways, since June 2012.[21][needs update?]

Destinations

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As of April 2023, Air Seychelles serves the following destinations:

Country City/Locality Airport Notes Ref
India Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport [22]
Israel Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport [22][23][24]
Kazakhstan Almaty Almaty International Airport [22]
Madagascar Antananarivo Ivato International Airport Terminated [25]
Mauritius Port Louis Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport [22]
Seychelles Bird Island Bird Island Airport Charter [22][26]
Denis Island Denis Island Airport Charter [22][26]
D'Arros Island D'Arros Island Airport Charter [22][26]
Mahé Seychelles International Airport Hub [22]
Praslin Praslin Island Airport [22]
South Africa Johannesburg O. R. Tambo International Airport [22]
Sri Lanka Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport [27]
United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi International Airport [22]

Codeshare agreements

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Air Seychelles has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:[28]

Fleet

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Air Seychelles Airbus A320neo

Current fleet

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As of February 2024, the Air Seychelles fleet comprises the following aircraft:[30]

Air Seychelles fleet
Aircraft In Service Orders Passengers Notes
J Y Total
Airbus A320neo 2[31] — 12 156 168[32]
Viking Air DHC-6-400 Twin Otter 5 — – 19 19
Total 7

Livery

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In October 2011, after nearly 25 years in their livery using traditional red, white and green local colours with two white terns (Gygis alba, the national bird of Seychelles), Air Seychelles painted its first Boeing 767-300ER aircraft in the company's new colours. The colours used on the tail end are blue, green, red and white.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Press release - Air Seychelles posts third consecutive year of net profitability". 12 March 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  2. ^ ""Air Seychelles achieves a profit of USD 8.4 million in 2022"" (Press release). 25 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  3. ^ "9/15/1977: Air Seychelles Is Formed". airwaysmag.com. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  4. ^ "History". Air Seychelles. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  5. ^ "History". Air Seychelles. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  6. ^ a b c "Air Seychelles profits from successful expansion strategy". 10 April 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  7. ^ centreforaviation.com - Air Seychelles to suspend services and restructure fleet under strategic transformation plan 24 January 2018
  8. ^ "Air Seychelles announces business transformation plan to safeguard long-term profitability" (Press release). Air Seychelles. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Etihad divests full stake in Air Seychelles". 1 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Air Seychelles profits from successful expansion strategy". 10 April 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  11. ^ "Press release - Air Seychelles posts second consecutive year of net profitability". 10 April 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  12. ^ "Our Fleet". Archived from the original on 26 February 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  13. ^ "Air Seychelles posts 6.6% rise in net profit". 12 March 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  14. ^ "Air Seychelles records profitability in 2015". 3 May 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  15. ^ "Air Seychelles honours long-serving staff at special awards ceremony". 29 January 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  16. ^ "Air Seychelles celebrates new passenger record of 550,000". 30 December 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  17. ^ "Air Seychelles Announces Radical Transformation, Cancels Longhaul Flights". 23 January 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  18. ^ "Air Seychelles celebrates the achievement of its Seychellois female workforce on International Women's Day". 8 March 2019. Archived from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  19. ^ "Air Seychelles ground handling and cargo business record strong performance in 2018". 13 March 2019. Archived from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  20. ^ airseychelles.com - Air Seychelles VIP retrieved 18 February 2018
  21. ^ "Our loyalty programme". Air Seychelles. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Route Map" (PDF). Air Seychelles. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 April 2023.
  23. ^ "חברת התעופה טארום חזרה לטוס לישראל, מי עוד בדרך?". חדשות תעופה (in Hebrew). 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  24. ^ אזולאי, איתי (13 March 2024). "אייר סיישל מודיעה על חזרתה לישראל". פספורטניוז (in Hebrew). Passport News. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  25. ^ "Air Seychelles to operate seasonal flights to Antananarivo". Air Seychelles. 13 February 2019. Archived from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  26. ^ a b c "Timetables". publisher. Archived from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  27. ^ "Air Seychelles to fly to Colombo, Sri Lanka". airseychelles.com. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  28. ^ "Codeshare Partners". Air Seychelles. Archived from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  29. ^ "Air Seychelles / SriLankan Airlines Begins Codeshare Service From May 2024".
  30. ^ "Our Fleet". Air Seychelles. 5 February 2019. Archived from the original on 12 October 2019.
  31. ^ "Air Seychelles takes delivery of maiden A320neo". ch-aviation.com. 1 August 2019. Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  32. ^ "Air Seychelles Celebrates The Arrival Of Africa's First A320Neo On Hometurf". airseychelles.com. 2 August 2019. Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2019.

Further reading

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Media related to Air Seychelles at Wikimedia Commons

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