Air Seychelles’ third Boeing aircraft arrives |20 October 2008

The aircraft landed at Seychelles International Airport late Saturday afternoon following a five-hour flight from Johannesburg where it had undergone paintwork bearing the revamped livery and corporate branding of the national airline.

The aircraft has been leased from the International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) and had previously been operated by Maxjet, in an all business class configuration between the USA and London.

Meanwhile, Air Seychelles’ executive chairman, Captain David Savy, said that the acquisition of a third Boeing 767 aircraft is the national airline’s response towards meeting growing demand as new properties were opening.

“Growth is critical in our survival and risk-mitigation strategy which is a key element in our corporate strategy and we believe that growth must continue so as to maintain and grow our market share thus the necessity to increase our international fleet with the acquisition of a third Boeing aircraft, a B767-205EM,” Captain Savy said.

He explained that the arrival of the B767-205EM would see the return of scheduled timings to flights operating regional routes such as Johannesburg and Singapore.

The B767-205EM is registered as S7-ILF and is in a 2-class configuration with 24 Pearl Class seats and 169 economy class seats.

Captain Savy also announced that Air Seychelles has signed a letter of intent with ILFC for a second B767-200 aircraft which is expected to join the national airline’s international fleet in January 2009.

“However, in view of the continuing challenges in the global aviation industry and mainly on increases in fuel prices and its cascading effects -- it is now more important than ever to remain focused and enhance our revenues and improve on service delivery -- we need to become the preferred carrier to the Seychelles,” Captain Savy added.

Welcomed by the traditional water canon mounted by the Fire Services Unit of the SCAA, the Amirantes’ flight from Johannesburg was under the command of Captain Francois Jackson assisted by First Officer Christopher Lespoir and had a team of Air Seychelles engineers on board who had supervised the works carried out by South African Airways Technical (SAAT).