October 31, 2012
AIR SEYCHELLES TO FLY TO HONG KONG
Air Seychelles announced today that it would introduce services to Hong Kong in February 2013, subject
to regulatory approvals, following the delivery of its second Airbus A330-200 aircraft in January 2013.
The airline will operate three return services per week from the Seychelles to Hong Kong via Abu Dhabi.
Cramer Ball, Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Seychelles needs a national carrier which
can support the growing number of travellers into the archipelago, not just from our historical markets
in Europe, but also the powerful emerging ones.
“Hong Kong’s economy is among the fastest growing in the world, supporting a booming middle class
with a high disposable income per capita by global standards.
“These factors have brought a remarkable increase in the number of travellers coming out of the region
in recent years. In fact, since 2010, the number of travellers coming to the Seychelles from Hong Kong
has more than doubled.
“We see Hong Kong as a significant driver for future tourism growth in the Seychelles, so we are
positioning Air Seychelles to seize the opportunity and support this vital market.”
The Seychelles is a visa-free destination, meaning all visitors can receive visas on arrival. Seychellois
citizens are also not required to have visas for travel to Hong Kong.
Further, Hong Kong is a potential gateway to expand the airline’s reach within the region, with
convenient connections to more than 30 destinations across mainland China, Japan and Australasia.
Guests travelling between the Seychelles and Hong Kong will remain on the same aircraft and keep the
same seat for both legs of the journey, allowing a seamless journey over Abu Dhabi.
By operating the flights over Abu Dhabi, Air Seychelles can also codeshare with Etihad Airways to
support further traffic to and from China. This dual approach will enable the airline to capture a
significant market share.
The airline has also confirmed an increase in services to Abu Dhabi, from four to seven return services
per week, a key part of a larger business plan approved by the airline’s Board of Directors.
Mr Ball said: “Through our partnership with Etihad Airways, we have been able to serve a much larger
network and make improvements to the business that we could not have achieved independently. We
are on track to break even this year, ensuring that Air Seychelles will continue to grow and thrive for
many years to come.”
For further information and bookings, call +852 37973488 or +852 37973489.
Seychelles-Abu Dhabi-Hong Kong schedule:
Flight #
HM86
HM86
HM87
HM87
Departs
Seychelles
(SEZ)
Abu Dhabi
(AUH)
Hong Kong
(HKG)
Abu Dhabi
(AUH)
Dept. Time
15:30
21:20
18:00
02:00
Arrives
Abu Dhabi
(AUH)
Hong Kong
(HKG)
Abu Dhabi
(AUH)
Seychelles
(SEZ)
Arr. Time
20:00
Frequency
Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday
Duration
4.5hrs
08:40 +1
Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday
7.3hrs
23:30
Monday, Wednesday,
Friday
Tuesday, Thursday,
Saturday
9.5hrs
06:40
A330-200 configuration: 18 Pearl business class seats, 236 economy class seats.
-ENDSAbout Air Seychelles
4.5hrs
Air Seychelles was established in 1978 and began long-haul service in 1983. The airline currently offers
international flights to Abu Dhabi, Johannesburg and Mauritius. Air Seychelles also offers more than 160
domestic scheduled flights a week throughout the archipelago, as well as domestic charter services. As
the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles, Air Seychelles is a pillar of tourism, the island nation’s
strongest and growing economic sector. The airline maintains a strategic partnership with Etihad
Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates and 40 per cent stakeholder. For more
information, please visit: www.airseychelles.com.
About Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, began operations in 2003, and in 2011
carried 8.3 million passengers. From its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad Airways serves 86
passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America,
with a fleet of 67 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and 100 aircraft on order, including 10 Airbus A380s, the
world’s largest passenger aircraft. Etihad Airways also holds equity investments in airberlin, Air
Seychelles, Virgin Australia and Aer Lingus. For more information, please visit: www.etihad.com.
For more information contact:
Alan Renaud
General Manager | Corporate Affairs
Tel:
+248 439 1032
Mob: +248 252 5741
Email: [email protected]