New travel routes possibilities for Seychelles after yet another positive negotiation |30 June 2021

Minister Derjacques and PS Renaud in talks with HC Razzak

• The Ministry of Transport continues to strengthen its connections one country at a time

In line with prevailing Covid-19 conditions, most of the traditional European routes that the Seychelles were using have been closed for the present. As a result, one of the ministry’s top priorities is to explore new alternative routes and tourism markets, which can potentially expand Air Seychelles’ business in the process.

Minister Antony Derjacques and the principal secretary in the department of Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine (DCAPM), Alan Renaud, had yet another positive negotiation in regards to another Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), this time with Omar Adbul Razzak, non-resident high commissioner of the Republic of the Maldives to the Republic of Seychelles.

Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs) promote international air links between countries, in this case between Seychelles and the Maldives, supporting and enabling the movement of persons and cargo, thereby boosting trade and tourism.

The ministry foresees more direct flights to Seychelles and another air service agreement is just another step closer to achieving that.

During the meeting, PS Renaud also touched base on the possibility of Air Seychelles being granted fifth freedom traffic rights between the Maldives and Kazakhstan as well as allowing the designated airlines of both countries to operate daily flights.

Both proposals were, in principle, well received by Mr Razzak, who is also the non-resident high commissioner of the Maldives to Kazakhstan.

Mr Razzak proposed further that a new modern agreement be concluded between the countries given that the present agreement is twenty years old.

The fifth freedoms and additional frequencies would allow Air Seychelles to stimulate the Kazakhstan market to Seychelles with less risk as the plane loads will be more secure, given that Kazakhstan has already proven to be a very successful market in the Maldives, and the aircraft would have travellers destined for both destinations.

It is to be noted that this week alone, the Ministry of Transport has successfully pushed for four new air services agreements – Ukraine, Angola, Kazakhstan and now Maldives.

Additionally, after successful negotiations, following the minister’s meeting with Sandro Renato Agostinho de Oliveira, Ambassador designate of the Republic of Angola on June 1, 2021, the BASA with Angola is forecasted to be finalised by mid-July 2021 instead of November 2021, a terrific step ahead of schedule.

Minister Derjacques emphasised that it is only through transport connectivity for both aviation and marine that economic development is achievable and can grow.

Press release from the Ministry of Transport