Air Seychelles welcomes home new A320 Airbus |02 September 2015

Air Seychelles chairman and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Transport Joël Morgan has described the arrival yesterday of the national airline’s new A320 Airbus as “proud and exciting for Air Seychelles and our nation”.

Mr Morgan was joined by Vice-President Danny Faure and Air Seychelles chief executive (CEO) Roy Kinnear to cut the ribbon to, as he said, “welcome home” the new aircraft, which touched down at the Seychelles International Airport at exactly 8am yesterday morning.

The new aircraft has been baptised Silhouette after the archipelago’s third largest island.

After receiving a water canon salute from the airport’s fire service, the aircraft was also blessed by Reverend Danny Elizabeth from the Anglican Diocese and Father David Alcindor of the Roman Catholic Church.

The aircraft has been leased to Air Seychelles by its partner company Etihad Airways, but is registered under the Seychelles civil aircraft register and bears registration number S7-SIL. Though a single-aisle aircraft with 16 business and 120 economy seats, its cockpit design is similar to Air Seychelles’ wide-bodied A330 the Aldabra, permitting the company to use the pilots and cabin crew on both aircraft types.

Minister Morgan noted as “particularly noteworthy that Silhouette is the second Airbus aircraft that Air Seychelles has registered in Seychelles this year”, adding that the “undertaking reflects how far the airline has come in growing its operational capacity in the span of three years”. Amirantes, Air Seychelles’ other A320 aircraft, was transferred to the local register in June this year.

Revealing more plans for the future, Minister Morgan said he is confident that the new aircraft will bring more visitors to our shores and with them a memorable holiday, strengthening Air Seychelles’ reputation in the process.

He announced that the airline is currently finalising negotiations to fly to Comoros and to China later this year.

“We have to grow this industry. We have to make it work. I am confident that it will work. […] The arrival of Silhouette marks another chapter in the development of our national airline, which continues to go from strength to strength and is making a significant contribution to the Seychelles’ economy every day,” the minister said.

CEO Kinnear also described the event as a “remarkable achievement, which brings new opportunities, strengthens the business and shows how the airline is growing”.

He added that the extension of the service at all level - décor, cabin crew, menu, in flight entertainment – is important to keep guests with a lasting impression not only of Air Seychelles, but also of the Seychelles and will permit the company to continue delivering for our people and country.

Mr Kinnear explained that the A320 has been chosen as it is currently the world’s best selling aircraft.

“The A320 is a modern aircraft and offers a comfortable travelling experience, with wide seats and personal in-flight entertainment systems. Combined with our award-winning service and cabin crew renowned for their Creole warmth and friendliness, this makes for a powerful travelling proposition,” he said.

Silhouette will however not be staying home for long as it will soon join the Amirantes on the regional routes of Mauritius, Antananarivo, Dar es Salaam, Abu Dhabi and Mumbai.