The Seychelles flag carrier has seen a significant increase in passenger traffic but needs more capacity to meet the demand. Although passenger numbers continue rising, several challenges hinder African airlines from meeting the pent-up demand for air travel.
Several markets and airlines have recovered from the pandemic, recording significant growth and net profits. Although it has not published its financial performance for FY22, Air Seychelles confirmed that the demand in the region had surpassed pre-pandemic levels. The airline’s Acting CEO, Sandy Benoiton, said in an interview with Simple Flying;
“In the whole ecosystem, there has been so much disruption that it is going to take time to be able to match the demand that is there. The demand is probably at or even above pre-pandemic, but I think one of the biggest issues is being able to serve the demand, particularly the legacy of the bigger carriers.”
The incredibly high cost of fuel and maintenance, supply chain issues, and restricted access to certain markets has stopped some airlines from carrying as many passengers as they had planned.
Increase in passenger numbers
To survive the pandemic, the airline underwent several changes, and it is one of the few African carriers that essentially never stopped flying. Working with the government, it converted its passenger jets into cargo aircraft, eventually opening the country up faster than anticipated.
The carrier also changed its fleet from the Airbus A320ceo to the A320neo to extend its range and tap into new markets. The airline fell into business administration in October 2021 and exited in November 2022, and since then, it has seen very positive results, managing to record some profits, which will be announced soon.
Apart from its regular service to Mumbai, Mauritius, Johannesburg, and Tel Aviv, the airline’s A320neos managed to fly to about 35 destinations in 2022, with chartered flights to Australia, Amsterdam, Beijing, Bucharest, Dakar, and London, to mention a few.
Passenger traffic in the region has recovered to about 110% of pre-pandemic levels, showing a positive outlook for the airline for the rest of the year. Air Seychelles is now working on developing new routes and working with partners to enhance its network.
Inaugural flights to Sri Lanka
Last week, Air Seychelles launched its inaugural flight to Colombo, Sri Lanka, its second destination in Asia. The four-hour flight from Seychelles International (SEZ) to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) was operated on the A320neo, which was welcomed by a traditional water cannon salute.
While in Sri Lanka, the Acting CEO officially inaugurated the first Air Seychelles office in Colombo. However, the aircraft remained on the ground for about one hour and then made the return flight with 2.5 tons of cargo headed for Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport (TLV). This is another essential destination for the airline, being the second-most demanded after Johannesburg OR Tambo (JNB).
Flights between Mahé and Colombo will be operated four times a week, with two flights leaving Seychelles on Tuesdays and Saturdays, while the other two return on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Growing the airline post administration
Seychelles is a very small island country with about 100,000 people. Air Seychelles is one of the biggest businesses on the island, providing more than just air travel for the citizens. It is part of the country’s economic development, so the CEO is dedicated to growing the airline and keeping it alive.
The carrier constantly looks for new routes and opportunities to expand in line with its development strategy. At the moment, Air Seychelles is leveraging its recent partnership with Qatar Airways to increase its footprint in the global market.
The airline will also partner with Sri Lankan Airlines to allow its passengers to fly beyond Colombo to other destinations in Asia. Additionally, it is discussing codeshare agreements with more airlines, which will be announced soon.
Source: Simple Flying
