Air Seychelles Signs Codeshare Agreement with Cathay Pacific

Air Seychelles is to significantly expand its reach into Asia and Australia, after signing a codeshare agreement with Cathay Pacific Airways, which will allow the airlines to introduce a comprehensive range of codeshare and interline air services, subject to regulatory approvals.

The agreement will see the island carrier place its ‘HM’ code on five Cathay Pacific flights per week between Hong Kong and Perth, six flights per week each between Hong Kong and Melbourne, Seoul, and three flights per week from Hong Kong to Johannesburg.

Cathay Pacific will codeshare on six flights per week between Hong Kong and Seychelles, and two flights per week from Seychelles to Abu Dhabi.

Subsequent phases of the agreement will explore codesharing to additional points in Asia and the Seychelles archipelago, and will include guest benefits, such as airport lounge access and frequent flyer program reciprocity, including priority check-in, and excess baggage allowances for top tier program members.

Air Seychelles Chief Executive Officer, Cramer Ball, said the new codeshare partnership with Cathay Pacific Airways would enable Air Seychelles to tap into Asia’s rapidly growing travel market, which in recent years has become an important source of tourism growth for the Seychelles.

“We are delighted to enter this deal with one of the world’s leading airlines. Our partnership with Cathay Pacific will go a long way to support the growing demand for flights between the Seychelles and China, as well as Asia generally. Both airlines are now poised to benefit from that demand,” said Mr. Ball. “Cathay Pacific’s celebrated inflight service, combined with our unique and world famous Creole warmth, makes for a powerful proposition, one that we are confident will appeal to the travelling public. This deal is a win-win for both airlines, and we look forward to strengthening our affiliation with our new friends at Cathay Pacific in the future.”

Demand for travel between Seychelles and Asia has grown at a rapid pace in the last two years, with Chinese tourism figures alone up 273% since 2011, and up 91% in the rest of the Far East.

In March, Air Seychelles launched flights to Hong Kong, offering 1,524 seats per week between Hong Kong and Seychelles via Abu Dhabi.

Air Seychelles has also implemented an interline e-ticketing functionality with Cathay Pacific and its subsidiary Dragonair to provide additional seamless booking and ticketing opportunities for each other’s passengers.

Joel Morgan, Seychelles Minister for Home Affairs and Transport and Chairman of Air Seychelles, said, “This impressive partnership with Cathay Pacific, Air Seychelles’ first in Asia, is another significant milestone for our national airline. Guests of Cathay Pacific Airways now have a new exquisite holiday choice in the Seychelles, which they can experience alone, or in combination with other stops in Johannesburg, Abu Dhabi or Hong Kong. The deal is a great example of our airline’s pledge to make Seychelles more accessible to emerging markets and of our strategy to create alliances which enhance our network and marketing reach in a measured way. Cathay Pacific’s extensive route network also offers further expansion opportunities into Asia and beyond, subject to regulatory approvals.”

Tickets went on sale on 21 November 2013, for travel from 9 December 2013.