Air Seychelles to launch services to Dar es Salaam

Air Seychelles, the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles, has announced the launch of twice-weekly flights to Dar es Salaam to commence on 2 December 2014, marking the next stage of growth in the airline’s regional strategy.

The Tanzanian capital becomes the third destination in Air Seychelles’ Indian Ocean and African network, after Mauritius and Johannesburg.  The route will be operated using a two-class Airbus A320 aircraft with 16 Business Class and 120 Economy Class seats.

Manoj Papa, Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive Officer, said:  “We continue to build strength and depth in our global network, and the addition of Dar es Salaam, one of Africa’s fastest-growing business and tourism destinations, will enhance traffic flows to the Seychelles and beyond, fulfilling our mandate to be a key economic enabler for the Seychelles, supporting tourism and trade.

“These flights will serve as an attractive travel proposition for business and leisure travellers in Tanzania, offering a direct link to our archipelago and convenient onward connections to Abu Dhabi and beyond, including the Indian Subcontinent.”

The A320 aircraft will also offer 7.2 tonnes of weekly bellyhold capacity to and from Tanzania, giving a further boost to trade opportunities. Air Seychelles expects the service to carry a mixture of electronics, machinery and pharmaceuticals into Dar es Salaam, with primarily perishable goods loaded for the return flight.

Joël Morgan, Seychelles Minister for Home Affairs and Transport and Air Seychelles Board Chairman, said the new route would support Air Seychelles’ aim to improve regional connectivity as well as enhance commerce and leisure travel to the archipelago.

“Dar es Salaam is a great addition to our network.  The direct link between the capital of Tanzania and the Seychelles underscores our ongoing commitment to serve the region,” Mr Morgan said.

“Through our hub, we offer new and efficient routes between Africa, the Indian Subcontinent and Asia, allowing us to tap into the strong flows of people and capital between these regions, creating passenger demand in both directions. As the Seychelles continues to invest in world-class development projects, we are confident we will attract and generate new commerce in our archipelago.

“We also offer a direct connection between two of world’s iconic and premier tourism destinations, linking the exquisite beauty of the Seychelles with the authentic wonders of Tanzania, a proposition that will have great appeal to travellers seeking the next great experience.”

As the gateway to Tanzania, Dar es Salaam offers access to a variety of unique tourist attractions, such as the Ngorongoro Crater, the largest unbroken caldera in the world; Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free standing mountain in the world; the Serengeti National Park; the Selous Game Reserve, the largest in Africa; and Zanzibar, home to Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.