VICTORIA, Seychelles — Air Seychelles resumed its direct flight service to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, on Saturday afternoon, after a six-year hiatus. The A320-NEO airliner touched down at the Seychelles International Airport at 12:35pm, where it was welcomed with a symbolic water cannon salute.
The flight had left Seychelles at 9:00pm on Friday, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 02:40am on Saturday. Its return flight departed Abu Dhabi at 8am, arriving back in Seychelles at 12:35pm. With a revised six-weekly schedule, the route is designed to make travel more affordable for Seychellois families, professionals and students, while strengthening trade and tourism links with the UAE.
Speaking at the ceremony, Transport Minister Antony Derjacques said the re-introduction of the route came at a strategic point, noting that it would extend the airline’s reach into the Middle East and beyond, with onward connections from Abu Dhabi to Europe, Asia, and Africa. “The route has been designed to be very affordable, ensuring that more Seychellois families, professionals and students can travel with greater ease and convenience,” he said, adding that the new service was expected to support the country’s economy by improving access to key business and tourist markets.
