Work underway to expand Mahé domestic terminal |30 January 2015

Work is underway to expand and refurbish the Mahé domestic terminal at the Seychelles International Airport (SIA) and the infrastructure is now expected to get its new facelift by 2017.

The new terminal aims to provide a high standard and more comfortable experience for passengers using the facilities.
All passengers flying to the islands of Praslin, Denis, Bird, Fregate, Desroches  and Alphonse have to through this terminal making it a focal point for domestic air travel.

Patrick Hoareau, general manager for airport management, said the domestic terminal needed a major renovation as well as extension to improve the standards of its facilities.

“A new infrastructure will allow the terminal to cater for increased demands in traffic and to further implement necessary international standards as well,” he said.

Work on the terminal is to take place in three phases. The first part, which has already started, consists of site preparation. It will be followed by the actual construction of a new departure lounge and check-in area with six check-in desks.

The building of a CIP Lounge (Air Seychelles premium lounge) on the first floor, office space and other amenities, a new baggage handling area, baggage handling system and security systems are also to take place in this stage which is expected to last for 11 months.

During this stage, which will kick off at the beginning of February, all operations for both arrival and departure of passengers will continue in the existing domestic departure lounge.

And once this is completed, all operations will move in the new departure lounge for both arrival and departure operations.

Work on the second phase is to start by the end of December this year and will last for seven months. It will consist of the refurbishment of the existing departure lounge. This lounge is to be converted into the new arrival lounge.

The last phase, which will take around six months to be completed, will focus on commercial facilities, consisting of some minor construction works such as new facilities for service providers, namely car hire operators, banks and money changers, as well as destination management companies; snack bar, retails outlets and other amenities. New offices for Air Seychelles domestic operations, construction of new water harvesting tanks and decorative water features are also included in this phase which will begin in July next year.

This project is fully funded by the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) at the cost of R75 million and is being undertaken by local building contractor Allied Builders.

Work on the domestic terminal was to start a year ago but has been delayed on account of some administrative issues.

The foundation stone for the new domestic terminal was laid by the Minister for Home Affairs and Transport Joël Morgan on December 6, 2013.

The domestic terminal was built and officially opened in 1981 as the increased level of traffic handled at the SIA in the late 1970s were becoming a concern that had to be addressed.

The terminal underwent further expansion in July 1995 and was officially reopened on December 31 in the same year.