Air Seychelles buys second Shorts 360 aircraft-More seats on domestic route |27 July 2006

The aircraft, which will join the domestic fleet of one other Shorts 360 and three DHC6-300 Twin Otters, is expected to arrive here early next month in time to meet the peak period around mid-August, says a press release from the airline.

“Since the introduction of the first Shorts some three years ago, it is clearly the passengers’ favourite as it not only offers more capacity but stand-up room, overhead racks and a quieter cabin,” says the press release.

Commenting on the purchase, Air Seychelles’ chief executive & chairman, Captain David Savy, says: “We have had the benefit of operating the Shorts 360 for the past years and this is a welcome addition given that there is strong growth in that sector of the business and passengers expect shorter transit times when arriving or departing on an international service”.

The second Shorts 360 aircraft, named Isle of La Digue, is now being fitted in with ferry fuel tanks and is expected to fly over 8750km to Seychelles with technical stops for refuelling in France, Italy , Greece , Egypt and Yemen prior to arriving here in time for the peak of  mid-August, the busiest tourism period in Seychelles.

Being the legal owner of the second Shorts 360, Air Seychelles has registered the aircraft with the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority under the call-sign S7-PRI, says the press release.

The Shorts 360 aircraft has a retractable undercarriage, is propelled by six-bladed Hartzell propellers and powered by two Pratt & Whitney turboprop engines. It has a flight range of 920 nautical miles and a maximum take off weight of 12292kgs.

The seating configuration is similar to the existing Shorts 360 aircraft.

In the previous months the aircraft has undergone inspections and tests and was certified for export to the Seychelles last week by the British Civil Aviation Authority.