Bookings with Air Austral start in January |28 December 2013

Those who wish to visit Reunion as from next year can start booking their tickets as from January with air fares costing between 340 and 350 euros (around R5,500).

Tourism and Culture Minister Alain St Ange gave details of the new ticket prices and resumption of Air Austral flights to Seychelles yesterday during a press conference at the ministry’s office at the National Cultural Centre.

Mr St Ange added that at present, a ticket from Reunion to Seychelles via Mauritius cost an average of 980 euros (R15,700), but the new price will be more acceptable for tourists who want to come to Seychelles for short breaks.

“It is also an affordable one for Seychellois who wish to travel to Reunion for shopping or holiday trips,” he said.

Mr St Ange said the loss of Air Austral about a year ago was a blow to the country’s tourism industry especially the Seychellois-owned small establishments that were benefitting from tourists coming from Reunion.

He added that the resumption of the Air Austral flight to Seychelles will start in June as the airline needs to ensure that its marketing and structures are well in place.

The first flight from Reunion to Seychelles will be on June 23, 2014. The airline will fly to Seychelles twice per week – on Mondays and Thursdays.

During this year’s Creole Festival there was a trade fair where among the exhibits were products from Reunion which can be placed on the local market.

“These products are the same ones which we get from Europe. They are of the same standard and quality but we buy from other European markets while we can get from our region,” he said.

“With the resumption of Air Austral flights, we will be able as from next year to have a variety of products from Reunion in our supermarkets and hotels, and this will be of great benefit to Seychelles.”

Mr St Ange said the ministry is happy with this new venture, adding that discussions have also been held with the Minister for Home Affairs and Transport Joël Morgan to look into the possibility for Air Seychelles and Air Austral to have a code-share agreement.

“This will be good for us as our national airline Air Seychelles will be able to sell tickets for Air Austral at all its points of sale with connection to Reunion,” he said.

Mr St Ange said a few months prior to the first flight to Seychelles, members of the press will be invited to Reunion for them to see and report on what the island has to offer.