IDC acquires ex-Agro premises to upgrade aviation facilities, cater for bigger aircraft |26 February 2022

Mr Savy (Photo: Patrick Joubert)

The Islands Development Company has acquired the ex-Agro property at Pointe Larue to upgrade its aviation facilities as it is in the process of acquiring bigger aircraft.

Islands Development Company (IDC) chief executive Glenny Savy made the announcement yesterday afternoon during a press conference held at the company’s administration office, New Port.

Mr Savy said the reason for the upgrade of IDC’s aviation facilities is to cater for bigger aircraft in the future, taking into account the growth of the tourism industry and now more importantly, the extensive agricultural development taking place on the outer islands, especially on Coëtivy and Desroches.

He added that without the aviation operation, it will be very difficult for IDC to develop the outer islands, particularly those that are far from Mahé.

He said the plane given its capacity, in terms of cargo and passengers, will be ideal to conduct multi stops between islands on one single flight from Mahé.

“We are looking at purchasing a bigger aircraft than the Beechcraft we are currently operating and the option is an ATR 42, a 42-seater compared to the 18-seater that we have. It will not fit in our current hangar and for structural reasons and land size reasons, we will not be able to accommodate it on our current parcel of land,” Mr Savy said.

Mr Savy explained that the company has made an agreement with government to swap its current freehold three plots of land totalling 20 square metres, holding its current aviation, for the plot of land at ex-Agro on leasehold agreement.

He stated that the three plots of land were bought from a foreigner, from government and from Helicopter Seychelles.

He said the land at ex-Agro is wider and not as deep to cater for a bigger hangar compared to its current site which is narrower on the front and deeper which does not fit the purpose as IDC will be looking to gradually acquire at least three ART 42 for its fleet of airplanes.

Another reason he said IDC has decided to acquire this type of airplane is because the Beechcraft is no longer in production and it will be very difficult in the coming years to get spares for the plane.

The ART 42 plane costs between US $16 million and US $19 million and will be financed through a loan.

The new aviation facility will include a new hangar and new departure terminal to accommodate for the bigger aircraft, including other buildings for cargo, cargo handling and for proper security procedures etc….

“Upon negotiations with government we’ve come to an agreement for the swap given that both parcels of land represent the same size. It was a straightforward deal without any exchange of money between us and government,” said Mr Savy, who noted that IDC will be leaving its building facilities for government to use for its own purposes.

Mr Savy said work has started to pull down the old infrastructure which housed the factory for the production of tomato sauce, liquid milk and jam among other canned products, but they will be keeping the old office block and renovate it to be used as the aviation office block.

He stated that they are looking forward and are quite excited about the project. He added that IDC has been in the aviation business for almost 40 years and has used different planes ‒ Islander (8-seater), Caravan (10-seater), Beechcraft (18-seater) and in the near future the 40-seater ATR 42, the new generation of planes that will take IDC aviation through to the next 40 years. The aviation facility is expected to be completed by end of the first quarter of 2023. It will be financed entirely by IDC.

Mr Savy also took the opportunity to announce that IDC’s head office at the New Port will be relocated to Ile Du Port.

He said government has since two years ago asked them to move within the next five years to make way for the expansion of Port Victoria.

IDC’s headquarters has been at the New Port for 35 years and is one of the very first buildings built on this reclaimed land.

He said work has already started on IDC’s new headquarters and will finish by early 2023.

Patrick Joubert