Air Seychelles seeks new Chinese charter flight partnership

Air Seychelles is looking for a new Chinese airline to partner in the provision of weekly chartered flights that will link Victoria and the Chinese capital, Beijing. Oscar Nkala reports.
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An airline spokesperson told the government-owned Seychelles News Agency (SNA) that there have been no flights to China since the lapse of the previous chartered flight contract in February.

“The charterer decided not to extend beyond February 2017. Air Seychelles is open to further China services subject to a third party stepping forward and expressing a wish to commit to the resumption of ooperations,” the spokesperson said. 

Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) Chief Executive Officer Sherin Francis said the number of Chinese tourists has dropped markedly due to the lack of direct flights between the island nation and Beijing. 

The accessibility of Seychelles to Chinese tourists will be partially resolved through the recent expansion of an existing code-share agreement between Air Seychelles and Eitihad Airways. The agreement came into force on June 14.