New accord to boost air links between Seychelles and Dubai |19 October 2012

The agreement, which supersedes the MoU signed between the Dubai’s Department of Civil Aviation and the Seychelles Ministry of Tourism and Transport on July 8, 2004, has secured a modern air services framework between Seychelles and Dubai.

The new MoU between the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) further formalises Emirates Airline’s fourteen weekly frequency entitlements to Seychelles and makes provision for additional allocation for all-cargo operations capped at seven flights per week with any type of aircraft.

Emirates is currently operating with the largest capacity into Seychelles at 11 flights a week using an Airbus 340-500 increasing to 12 and 13 weekly flights by December 3, 2012 and February 5, 2013.

“This is excellent for Seychelles’ air transport industry and also the tourism industry,” said Gilbert Faure, SCAA’s chief executive.

“The focus on cargo operation also complements our current plans to boost trade by air for the business community and we are currently undergoing major refurbishment in order to improve the facilities at the Cargo Terminal,” he added.

Moreover, the new agreement reiterates the spirit of the UAE-Seychelles 1992 agreement granting the designated airlines (Air Seychelles and Emirates) permission to operate to intermediate and beyond destinations such as Madagascar, Mauritius and Johannesburg with fifth Freedom Traffic rights.

The Dubai delegation, headed by Saood Abulaziz Kankazar, also paid a courtesy visit to the Minister for Home Affairs and Transport, Joel Morgan, where he expressed plans to further increase flights to Seychelles to three times daily in the future.

“Emirates Airline is a very important partner for Seychelles, currently connecting Seychelles to 102 out of its 126 destinations worldwide. Ever since it launched operation in 2004 it has continued to grow, even during difficult times. My ministry is very grateful for Emirates Airline’s sustained contribution to Seychelles,” said the minister.

He further reiterated the wish to assist in any way possible so as to strengthen the long standing good relationship between Seychelles and Dubai.

Emirates also announced that it will soon be introducing new destinations such as Lyon, France and its plans to increase connections to destinations in Asia such as China and India.