Air Seychelles will launch a twice‑weekly special service between Seychelles and Istanbul from May 2 to June 27, a strategic pivot designed to maintain inbound tourism flows amid ongoing regional disruption. The move, announced via a communiqué, responds to reduced capacity through traditional Gulf gateways and aims to position Istanbul—a major global aviation hub—as an alternative European‑connection point for visitors.
Flights will operate on Tuesdays and Saturdays using a 303‑seat Airbus A330‑300 leased from HiFly, with departures from Istanbul at 2215 hours arriving in Seychelles at 0700 the next morning, and return flights leaving Seychelles at 0850 hours to land in Istanbul at 1555. The overnight eastbound schedule is crafted to let travellers wake up refreshed on Mahé, while the westbound timing facilitates smooth connections across Turkish Airlines’ extensive European network.
CEO Sandy Benoiton framed the Istanbul service as a demonstration of the airline’s “responsiveness to evolving market conditions and our continued commitment to supporting the tourism industry in Seychelles.” He added that Istanbul is “not only a compelling destination in its own right, but also a major global hub offering extensive connectivity into Europe and beyond,” a critical asset as traditional Middle‑Eastern hubs face operational constraints.
For a tourism‑dependent economy still recovering from pandemic‑era lows, reliable air links are nothing short of existential. The Istanbul route complements existing special services to Paris and Rome, effectively creating a diversified portfolio of European gateways. If the experiment proves commercially viable, it could evolve into a permanent seasonal route, offering Seychelles a valuable hedge against future regional volatility in aviation.
