Air Seychelles hands over B737 aircraft |09 May 2005

The aircraft left the International Airport at Point Larue around 11.00 in the morning for New Delhi where it will be returned to IFLC. It will be subsequently handed over to its new lessor, the Sahara Airlines of India, whose name and colours it bore when it left Seychelles soil.

The handing over of the aircraft followed the signing of a termination of lease agreement by Air Seychelles with ILFC during the week.

The aircraft was flown to New Delhi by two Air Seychelles captains, one first officer and an engineer.  The chief executive officer of Air Seychelles and other senior staff were present at the airport to witness its departure.

Air Seychelles decided to return B737 after it revised its strategy "to cater for heightened airline competition on its route network."

It acquired the aircraft in November 2001 to serve regional routes.

The company now has two Boeing 767-300ERs which will continue to operate its international routes. Both aircraft are also owned by ILFC. The existing fleet is around six years old.

Air Seychelles has confirmed that no staff members have lost their jobs as a result of the hand-over and those who were working with the plane have been absorbed in other departments in the company.