30th anniversary of Independence-Airport upgrade opens |30 June 2006

The airport upgrade was opened by President James Michel in front of a large audience including politicians, airport staff and technicians involved in the project. The ceremony formed part of activities to mark the 30th anniversary of Seychelles' Independence.

“As we celebrate 30 years of our independence, we also celebrate our achievements in the aviation industry. We have come a long way, but there is so much more that we can achieve. Let the sky be limit of our aspirations and achievements,” the President said, speaking in the all-new international departures lounge.

Joint funded by the Seychelles government and the Arab Bank for African Development (Badea) the Creole-style international airport upgrade was designed by local architects Berlouis Mondon/Design Studies and built by Allied Builders in a 16-month project.

President Michel said that the upgrade plans had come about following a series of meetings, which had also resulted in the creation of the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority.

The head of the SCAA, Gilbert Faure, described the opening as, “another milestone in the history of civil aviation in Seychelles.”

The renovation work, the vast majority of which has now been completed, has seen wide ranging changes, including extending the departure lounge from 792  square metres to 1620 square metres, the Commercially Important Passenger lounge from 32  square metres to 432  square metres and the Duty Free area from 126 square metres to 346 square metres.

In addition an internet café and internet hotspots have been included and the number of immigration desks and customs points have been increased to speed up the through flow of arriving tourists.

President Michel said that the new airport upgrade will soon be backed up by a new civil aviation policy.

“In recent months the Authority has been working, with the assistance of international expertise and in consultation with all stakeholders, on a new civil aviation policy. Government is in the process of adopting the new policy in the very near future,” he said.

The new policy is expected to focus on two specific areas; air safety and international air access.

“The safety and security of air travel is paramount. This is a worldwide concern and States are responsible for complying with a number of measures,” said the President, adding that the government is supporting the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme.

Although Seychelles is not currently operating a totally open skies policy, President Michel said that the recent arrival of Emirates Airline and Qatar Airways shows a commitment to increasing air access.

“Increased air access is a major component both in our strategy to reach into untapped tourism markets and our aim to multiply import and export possibilities,” he said.

Following the opening speeches by President Michel and Mr Faure and a note of congratulation by ICAO Regional Director, Lot Mollel, the assembled dignitaries spent thirty minutes touring the new facilities before the President took an Air Seychelles flight to Praslin for further Independence Day celebrations.