Private jets boost visitor arrivals |04 May 2007

Describing private jets as “typically small aircraft used for mainly personal or business use, usually for up to 10 people”, a communiqué from the SCAA said yesterday that most of these type of aircraft tend to come from the Middle East.

The communiqué however noted that SCAA does get a few regular visitors from South Africa, as well as the occasional private jet visit from places as far afield as Moscow and Luton.

According to the communiqué, SCAA also welcomes chartered airplanes, which usually carry up to 250 passengers depending on the size of the aircraft.

“Interestingly enough, SCAA has seen a sharp increase in Russian visitors coming in on these chartered planes in the last six months. At the moment we have a range of chartered planes on our so-called Northern Parking Area by SCAA – these have come from as far as Budapest and Moscow,” the communiqué said.

According to Preethi Nair, Research Analyst at the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB),  Seychelles is currently seeing above average number of visitors for this time of year, although traditionally for Seychelles the month of May is not a peak period for visitors.
“Most of the top hotels are pretty full and the tourism figures are certainly looking very positive at the moment,” said Nair. 

This, according to the SCAA communiqué, is certainly reflected in the number of aircraft currently parked in SCAA’s parking facility.  The Northern Parking Area is currently full with six aircraft.  Two more are parked on the main apron (the area in front of the International Terminal) and another was expected to arrive yesterday from Nairobi.

“This situation happens on a regular basis, peaking around November and December, and SCAA is taking action to cope with the increase in private and chartered airline traffic,” the communiqué said.

The chief executive officer of SCAA, Gilbert Faure, said: “As one of the Capital Projects for 2007 at Seychelles International Airport, SCAA is currently extending the Northern Parking Area to meet this current demand as well as catering for future increases in traffic. This will be completed at the end of May 2007 or early June 2007 and will offer in excess of 4000 square metres parking space for aircraft.”

The SCAA has also revealed that it is investing R2.2 million in the construction of a new taxiway that will link this Parking to the main runway.