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The codeshare agreement between the partner airlines, which commenced in January, has been expanded to include seamless travel over Abu Dhabi to Paris for Air Seychelles passengers.
This took effect on May 1.

The Air Seychelles (HM)-marketed flights will be operated by Etihad Airways aircraft on the Abu Dhabi-Paris leg. Paris-Abu Dhabi flights will receive the HM code daily and Abu Dhabi-Paris flights will receive the HM code six days a week, all with sub-two hour connections to Mahe.

Cramer Ball, Air Seychelles chief executive officer, said: “I am thrilled to see Air Seychelles return to France, one of the top markets for visitors to our archipelago. With seamless connections in Abu Dhabi, our new improved schedule offers one of the fastest routes for travel between the Seychelles and Paris.”

Joel Morgan, Minister for Home Affairs and Transport, and chairman of Air Seychelles’ Board, said:  "This is something we have been pushing hard to achieve in order to maintain our connectivity with the very important French market. I am pleased that the French Civil Aviation Authorities have now granted us approval for this code share venture into Paris. It means that Air Seychelles can now avail of Etihad Airways connectivity into Paris to sell our tickets directly. This will no doubt generate more revenue for our national airline as it continues to recover its financial viability through its partnership with Etihad Airways.

In January, Etihad Airways acquired a 40 per cent stake in Air Seychelles and the two airlines now operate six return services a week between Abu Dhabi and the Indian Ocean archipelago, increasing to eight return services a week on May 1.