Seychelles signs record number of air service accords in 2013 |20 December 2013

Seychelles concluded a record number of air services agreements last week at the sixth ICAO Air Services Conference (ICAN), which was held in Durban, South Africa from December 9-13.

ICAN is an annual forum for the 191 member states of ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) to meet, negotiate and conclude air services agreements within a short five-day period.
 
Gilbert Faure, chief executive of the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA), headed the Seychelles delegation, which also included Alan Renaud, general manager corporate affairs for Air Seychelles.

Seychelles held meetings and discussions with 13 countries and concluded 11 air services agreements, including with Brazil, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Kenya, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Agreements are yet to be signed with Cambodia and Austria.

Commenting on this outcome, the Minister for Home Affairs and Transport Joël Morgan said: “Seychelles last year initialed an impressive nine agreements and I am delighted we have achieved such a number of agreements this year.  These agreements set the stage for new air links to be established, from strategically important regions in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The enormous economic multiplier effect of liberalised aviation markets is well documented, and we can look forward to more inbound visitors, increased trade, and a flourishing tourism industry, and we are pleased to be a leader in the Indian Ocean.”

Mr Faure said: “The new agreements we signed – from Brazil to Saudi Arabia, to the fast-growing tourism markets of Scandinavia and the Netherlands – show that we are reaching far and wide to invite global travellers.  We have also pursued a liberal air access policy that gives airlines tremendous flexibility in their plans: they can launch charters, direct scheduled services or they can codeshare with Air Seychelles and other carriers.  The choice is theirs under commercial considerations.”

Mr Renaud said: “We are delighted to see Seychelles continue to open its skies, a development sure to reap benefits for us as well as the country.  Thanks to these new agreements, Air Seychelles has new options for its own services and can make deals with new airline friends.  Working smartly, alone or with partners, we are confident we will be able to stimulate a new generation of travellers to our beautiful shores.”

The conference saw a record participation in 2013, of 73 countries and 406 delegates from around the world.  Over 500 agreements were initialled or signed.

The conference coincided with this year’s International Civil Aviation Day which was celebrated on December 7. The theme this year was: ‘Aviation your reliable connection to the world’.

In 2013, Seychelles concluded a total of 15 agreements with more planned for next year.