Emirates reaffirms ongoing commitment to Seychelles |13 February 2025
Representatives of travel trade were presented with certificate of appreciation during the ceremony
In celebration of its 20-year anniversary of operations to Seychelles, Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, marked the milestone at a dinner held yesterday in Mahé at the Eden Bleu Hotel.
Emirates reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to the nation, in the presence of Ahmed Afif, Vice- President of the Republic of Seychelles.
Also present were Sherin Francis, principal secretary for Tourism, among other dignitaries representing the various ministries, prominent business leaders, travel trade representatives as well as local media.
Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, Emirates’ SVP of Commercial Operations – West Asia and Indian Ocean, reiterated the importance of Seychelles to the airline’s network and operations, and its unwavering commitment to supporting Seychelles’ economy and tourism agenda, by helping to bring visitors from all continents to the island.
“We are proud to support Seychelles’ economy and tourism agenda, by helping to bring visitors from all continents to this beautiful country. So far, Emirates has carried 3.5 million passengers on our Seychelles route. And in the belly of our aircraft, we are transporting products, both imports and exports, to support local businesses and the movement of essential commodities to the nation,” he said.
The inaugural Emirates flight landed at Seychelles International Airport on January 2, 2005, launching its operations with a four-weekly service between Dubai and the island nation. The route quickly became a favourite among global travellers, prompting Emirates to increase capacity and flight frequency to meet growing demand and ensure seamless connectivity via its hub in Dubai.
In 2010, Emirates introduced daily flights to the archipelago and a few years later, in 2014, the Dubai-Seychelles route became a double-daily service operated by Emirates’ widebody Boeing 777 aircraft.
Last year, the airline renewed its strategic partnership with Tourism Seychelles, committing to collaborative efforts, including roadshows, familiarisation trips, and joint marketing campaigns to further boost the island’s visibility across its global network.
In addition to passenger operations, Emirates continues to support Seychelles as a leading international cargo carrier. In the last calendar year, the airline uplifted more than 8,200 tonnes of cargo, encompassing exports and imports. Key exports include seafood, supporting the most important economic sector and contributing significantly to the country’s GDP. In the last year alone, 79% of the exports on Emirates SkyCargo constituted seafood, cementing the country’s position as a major seafood processing hub. Conversely, Emirates SkyCargo imports fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and dairy products, as well as courier, pharmaceuticals and ship spare parts.
Contributed