FlyNAS to launch direct flights between Saudi and Seychelles as from July 2021 |11 June 2021

The Saudi Arabian based airline FlyNAS will launch direct flights between Saudi and Seychelles as from July 2021

Starting July 1, 2021, the Seychelles islands will be more accessible for travellers from the Saudi Arabia as the Saudi Arabian based airline FlyNAS announces direct flights from Jeddah to Mahé.

FlyNAS will commence its non-stop flights operating three times a week from Jeddah, with fast connections to or from Riyadh and Dammam.

Operating on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, the 5hr40 minute flight will be operated on a brand new A320 Neo aircraft with a capacity of 174 seats.

The new flights, which will make travelling to Seychelles easier for residents of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was initiated in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, alongside the Seychelles Tourism Board and the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority.

Accessible as never before, and with no visas required from any nationality, Seychelles, land of diversity and discovery, is a great place to spend quality time and to reconnect with nature.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest outbound market in the Middle East and with many in the Kingdom looking to go overseas after the opening of borders, the Seychelles Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, said: “The destination has recorded approximately some 300 Saudi Arabian since January 2021. With the arrival of FlyNAS to our shores, the Ministry of Tourism is looking forward to see an increase in the number of visitors from the Saudi Arabian region. The three-weekly flights to Seychelles from Jeddah represent another great opportunity for our destination, as not only will Seychelles be accessible directly to Saudi Arabian nationals but also the expatriates living in the Kingdom.”

“The timing for these new flights is also opportune. The beginning of the hot summer in the Gulf corresponds with the onset of our own cooler drier months here in the islands. Seychelles is ideal for families and we look forward to welcoming families and honeymooners as well as expatriates from the Kingdom, to experience the pleasure of being outdoors amid the verdant nature and cooling oceans,” Minister Radegonde added.

Speaking about the upcoming arrival of FlyNAS to its shores, Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) chief executive, Sherin Francis, welcomed the flights, saying the country is pushing forward with increasing the destination’s reach and to attract new visitors worldwide.

“We are excited that FlyNAS and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has finally open up the Saudi Arabia-Seychelles route. We anticipate that this new route will greatly enhance the visibility of our destination in Saudi Arabia and its neighbouring regions. We believe that this will help build travel confidence towards the Seychelles islands; not having to connect through other countries also makes it easier and more convenient. We are very happy to open our shores to all travellers travelling from and via Saudi Arabia to Seychelles. It is an amazing opportunity for us to welcome them to Seychelles and to provide them with an excellent time with many beautiful experiences,” said Mrs Francis.

Ahmed Fathallah, STB representative in the Middle East, added, “We are delighted to share this news with everyone. For a while now, the lack of direct flights has been a determining factor for travellers in the Kingdom who want to experience Seychelles. These non-stop flights will not only help the travellers but also our trade partners in the travel industry, as this will make it easy for them to direct their valued clients to the sunny islands of Seychelles.”

Before departure from Jeddah, visitors, regardless of vaccination status, are requested to apply for entry through the Health Travel Authorisation (HTA) website at seychelles.govtas.com.

Other entry requirements include for travellers to present their negative PCR test result taken within a maximum of 72 hours prior to their arrival and proof of valid travel health insurance covering any potential Covid-19 related costs.

Visitors will not be subject to any quarantine or movement restrictions on arrival. However, they must follow the existing health regulations, including the use of facemasks in public and social distancing. It is to be noted that Seychelles has one the world’s most rigorous vaccination programmes, vaccinating most of its population against Covid-19 ahead of opening up to tourism earlier this year.

Flights are already available for booking at Flynas.com and through travel agents.

Press release from STB