James Michel Ask France For Direct Flights

On his official visit to France, president James Michel made it a point to raise calling on Francois Hollande to consider using his influence to assist with negotiating direct flights with Air France, to Mahe, Seychelles.
Air France in the past has code shared with Air Seychelles, until the relationship came to an abrupt stop, when Air Seychelles was running Six flights a week from Charles De Gaulle in 2007.
Since then, Air Seychelles has restructured itself selling forty percent equity to Etihad . Recently it achieved Four Star Airline status awarded by Skytrax.
In addition to reinventing itself with Etihad management Air Seychelles recently started long haul flights from Charles De Gaulle to Mahe with one "technical stop " in Abu Dhabi. While the numbers have picked up, it has been slow, to configure Tour Operator seat allocations and convince the French market that the stop in UAE is ok. Most guest traveling complain endlessly about the stop.

Air France Flies To Indian Ocean

Air France is enjoying a fine year of business in the Indian Ocean. They fly a 747-400 into Mauritius daily and enjoy numerous flights into St Denis a day. The ticket from Paris to St. Denis is euro 749.00. The same ticket for a Seychelles trip will run you into euro 1,480.00. The ticket is basically a premium ticket price and yes, uncompetitive.

If Air France flies to Seychelles or code shares with Air Seychelles, the ticket prices will have to come down fast to make Seychelles a viable option for the Indian Ocean, as a destination for the French market.

Crash In Oil Prices

The recent crash in oil prices -53 percent from $115.00 per barrel, the most expensive component in running airlines, boat, trains, automobiles,will make proposal of Charles De Gaulle to Mahe, Seychelles DIRECT feasible. The only question will be how many times a week, three , four, six times a week?

Etihad Super Spokes Seychelles into Regional Hub

Did you notice the surge of direct flights from key destinations over the weekend?
Sherin Naiken was rushed to Mumbai to open direct flights to Mahe. Code sharing with Jet Airways, access to passenger frequent flyer membership miles of Jet Airways will make the route viable. Indians in the region North, have high net worth.

Rose Marie Hoarau was rushed on the reconditioned,re painted Airbus 320 -200 to Dar Es Saalam for another direct flight inaugural. A great link with safari enthusiasts going to the world famous Serengeti National Park.

Even Madagascar was in the act on direct flights this week. The rat infestation there did not make Manoj Papa shy away. Maybe the load factor will.

All in all, Air Seychelles implemented a strategy I have been writing about for ten years, to make Seychelles a regional hub, take on Mauritius head on, since they are not playing with us, we should not be playing with them.

Welcome More Direct Flights

There is a dire need to welcome more direct flights to Seychelles. Air Seychelles must not be foolish to do it alone. Allow,permit, welcome Seychelles Airlines to run direct flights from our main markets. Air Seychelles can only benefit from this. As Etihad has super spoked Seychelles into Abu Dhabi Seychelles tourism will be held hostage if the skies are not set free for access.

In the meantime, keep an eye on the price of oil. It may just sideline those Middle East hubs if they do not drop their prices.
As for Mr. Manoj Papa, we can only congratulate him for a fine job on the international component of Air Seychelles. Now sort out the domestic services , which is as I told you in the STB end of year meeting: " is horrendous" to put it mildly.
Sesel Pou Seselwa!
May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!