Letter to the Editor -Etihad Airways in partnership with Air Seychelles and other major airlines |19 July 2016

Over the last few months we have been reading about the various accolades which Air Seychelles has collected which have recognised her as ‘the best airline in the Western Indian Ocean’ – and recently we have been reading about the graduation of cabin crew from the world-class Etihad Airways Training Academy in Abu Dhabi, UAE. We tend to take these developments for granted – having forgotten that only a few years ago Air Seychelles was on the verge of bankruptcy.

As it is common knowledge, I am a tireless traveller who has over recent years flown in most of the major airlines of the world to and from various destinations. Not surprisingly, two years ago Starwood Group of Hotels which comprises the Sheraton, Le Méridien, the Westin, and other groups, made me a ‘Platinum Member for Life’ after they had discovered that over recent years, I had spent more than 500 nights in one of their establishments and had indeed, in this context, flown thousands of miles.

It is against this background of comparative awareness that I would like to pay tribute to Etihad Airways for the high level of services the airline is providing on a worldwide basis, despite today’s increasing competitive environment.

And with respect to Air Seychelles’ Etihad’s involvement since it became owner of 40 per cent of the airline and took over a 10-year management contract, has provided us with a carrier justifiably regarded as “The Pride of Seychelles”.

Today Etihad-trained Air Seychelles pilots and crews are noted for their competency and high level of self-confidence. Indeed, Etihad’s subsequent involvements with Alitalia, Air Serbia, Air Berlin, and others, against the background of their experience with Air Seychelles, has manifestly brought about a resurgence of moral and confidence within all these national airlines that was only some years ago struggling to survive.

Yes, the goodwill of the UAE’s government in support of Etihad’s bold and intelligent initiative should be recognised and never undervalued by the nationals of not only Seychelles but also Serbia, Italy and others.

James R. Mancham