Air Seychelles increases Johannesburg services

The change will enable connections to Cape Town to increase from 31 to 45 per week, while connections to Durban will increase from 22 to 38 per week. The new Johannesburg schedule also allows more convenient flight connections within South Africa, increasing from 24 to 61 per week. Connections to the rest of Africa will increase from 29 to 72 per week.

Boosted services

The increase in Johannesburg services is part of a network-wide boost. Mauritius will increase from two to three services per week, and Abu Dhabi will increase from four to seven return services per week.

Together with the new flights to Hong Kong, also commencing March 24 with three services per week, Air Seychelles will operate a total 16 return flights per week across its international network, up from eight today.

Cramer Ball, Air Seychelles chief executive officer, said: "Johannesburg has performed strongly during a turn-around year for Air Seychelles. We are confident that the additional service, convenient day flight times, and increased connectivity across South Africa will see even higher load factors on the route in 2013. By bringing additional flights to this and other high-demand markets, we are creating a solid foundation for the future of Air Seychelles, Seychelles tourism and our home economy.

"These are essential components of the plan which will see Air Seychelles established as a high-quality, profitable airline, as well as the carrier of choice within the Indian Ocean."

Increased Abu Dhabi services will also contribute greatly to the wider international network, due to the codeshare agreement with Etihad Airways in place since January 2012.

Promising financial results

The two airlines' combined services on the Seychelles-Abu Dhabi route, which will increase to 10 per week with daily coverage from 24 March, will greatly enhance connectivity over the Abu Dhabi hub. The combined network will increase to a total 496 connections per week between Seychelles and destinations across the globe, up from 440 connections today.

Air Seychelles this year announced third quarter revenues of US$13.8m, up 23% on the second quarter, as the airline's restructuring program took effect in the drive towards profitability in 2012. Growth in revenue was led by a 51% quarter-on-quarter increase in passengers.

Johannesburg flight schedule, effective 24 March 2013:

For more information, please visit: www.airseychelles.com.