Air Seychelles to fly to Hong Kong

Air Seychelles today announced that it would introduce services to Hong Kong in February 2013, subject to regulatory approvals, following the delivery of its second Airbus A330-200 aircraft in January 2013.

The airline will operate three return services per week from the Seychelles to Hong Kong via Abu Dhabi.

Cramer Ball, Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Seychelles needs a national carrier which can support the growing number of travellers into the archipelago, not just from our historical markets in Europe, but also the powerful emerging ones.

“Hong Kong’s economy is among the fastest growing in the world, supporting a booming middle class with a high disposable income per capita by global standards.

“These factors have brought a remarkable increase in the number of travellers coming out of the region in recent years. In fact, since 2010, the number of travellers coming to the Seychelles from Hong Kong has more than doubled.

“We see Hong Kong as a significant driver for future tourism growth in the Seychelles, so we are positioning Air Seychelles to seize the opportunity and support this vital market.”

The Seychelles is a visa-free destination, meaning all visitors can receive visas on arrival. Citizens of the Seychelles also do not need a visa for travel to Hong Kong.

Further, Hong Kong is a potential gateway to expand the airline’s reach within the region, with convenient connections to more than 30 destinations across mainland China, Japan and Australasia.

Guests travelling between the Seychelles and Hong Kong will remain on the same aircraft and keep the same seat for both legs of the journey, allowing a seamless journey over Abu Dhabi.

By operating the flights over Abu Dhabi, Air Seychelles can also codeshare with Etihad Airways to support further traffic to and from China. This dual approach will enable the airline to capture a significant market share.

The airline has also confirmed an increase in services to Abu Dhabi, from four to seven return services per week, a key part of a larger business plan approved by the airline’s Board of Directors.

Mr Ball said: “Through our partnership with Etihad Airways, we have been able to serve a much larger network and make improvements to the business that we could not have achieved independently. We are on track to break even this year, ensuring that Air Seychelles will continue to grow and thrive for many years to come.”

Sourced: etravelblackboardasia