Tourism Seychelles and Air Seychelles boost Italian connectivity with new direct Rome route |11 April 2026

Tourism Seychelles and Air Seychelles are strengthening connectivity with the Italian market following a recent sales mission in Rome, held alongside the launch of a new direct air route between Rome Fiumicino and Mahé.

Conducted in March in collaboration with the newly appointed general sales agent (GSA) in Italy, TAL Aviation Group, the initiative brought together key tour operators, travel trade partners and media to support the introduction of the twice-weekly service, which commenced operations on March 28, 2026.

Operating on Wednesdays and Saturdays with Airbus A320neo aircraft, the new route includes a short technical stop in Hurghada, Egypt, and provides Italian travellers with more direct and convenient access to Seychelles.

“With the new direct connection from Rome and the extension of flights from Paris, we are opening new opportunities for Italian and European travellers,” said Bernadette Willemin, special advisor at Tourism Seychelles. “These developments reflect our ongoing collaboration with Air Seychelles and our commitment to strengthening accessibility to the destination across key markets.”

The Rome engagements included a series of one-to-one meetings with leading tour operators, as well as two dedicated webinars connecting with partners across the country. A targeted press event with key travel trade publications and online tourism platforms further showcased the new service and the destination’s offering.

The mission also strengthened relationships with Italian travel trade partners and helped define joint strategies to further position the Seychelles as a leading destination in the market.

Italy continues to play a strategic role in Seychelles’ tourism performance, ranking as the fourth-largest international market by the end of 2025, with 22,524 arrivals – an 18% increase compared to 2024, representing the highest growth rate among key European markets.

With the new route now operational, enhanced connectivity is expected to support continued growth from Italy while reinforcing the archipelago’s appeal among European travellers.

In addition, Air Seychelles has confirmed the extension of its direct service from Paris Charles de Gaulle until June 28, 2026, offering greater flexibility and connectivity across Europe.

The Rome mission was attended by Bernadette Willemin, special advisor at Tourism Seychelles; Charles Johnson, chief commercial officer of Air Seychelles; Franchesca Vital, sales and marketing manager at Air Seychelles; alongside Piercarla Lai, sales and marketing manager, and Valeria Tienghi, country manager Italy at TAL Aviation Group.

Contributed