Air Seychelles to Launch Flights to Mumbai, India

Air Seychelles is planning to launch direct flights to Mumbai, the largest city in India and the capital of Maharashtra state, on 2 December 2014.

Subject to regulatory approvals, the new three times per week service will be operated by a two-class Airbus A320 aircraft, configured with 16 Business Class and 120 Economy Class seats.

Air Seychelles’ new service brings the number of regional destinations served by the airline to five, along with Antananarivo, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg and Mauritius.

“Our new Mumbai schedule has been purposely designed to offer business and leisure travellers from India convenient and direct access to the Seychelles islands, one of the world’s most prestigious holiday destinations,” said Manoj Papa, Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive Officer. “Seychelles is an increasingly attractive market for international investors, with many ambitious tourism, property and infrastructure developments planned over the coming years. Bringing Mumbai into our growing organic network is also a direct result of our strategic partnership with Etihad Airways, and how together, we have worked to increase travel options for the benefit of our combined customers, whilst benefiting trade and tourism at each end.”

The early morning arrivals and departures in Mumbai will allow passengers travelling in either direction to enjoy seamless connections between Mumbai and a large number of cities throughout India, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kochi.

Flights from Seychelles, which enjoy two-way connections from Mauritius, Johannesburg, Antananarivo and Dar es Salaam, depart Seychelles International Airport in Mahé at 20:45 on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, arriving in Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai at 02:55 the following morning.

On the return leg, flights from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai depart at 04:00 on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, arriving at Seychelles International Airport, Mahé, at 07:00 the same day, with convenient onward connections to Antananarivo Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg and Mauritius.

Joël Morgan, Seychelles Minister for Home Affairs and Transport and Air Seychelles Board Chairman, said, “Air Seychelles is a key economic enabler for our islands and the launch of our service to Mumbai marks a significant and exciting new chapter for Air Seychelles. With more than 42 million international travellers reported out of India last year, and an Indian diaspora of over 2.3 million in the Indian Ocean and Southern and Eastern Africa, I am confident the flights will boost travel and trade between the Seychelles and India, strengthen government and cultural exchanges, and be warmly welcomed by the significant Indian community living and working in the Seychelles, as well as by the substantial Seychellois community who can trace their heritage to India.”