Codeshare agreement with Etihad connects six major American cities with the Indian Ocean nation via Abu Dhabi, enhancing the potential for trade and tourism
Air Seychelles has added Etihad Airways flights to six US cities to its codeshare network, making it easier for travelers to reach the famous tropical islands of the Seychelles.
The agreement means travelers can take one of Etihad’s transatlantic flights from Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco or Washington to Abu Dhabi, where there are onward short four-hour flights with Air Seychelles to Mahé, the biggest island in the archipelago.
As they are part of a codeshare agreement, both legs of the journey are combined on one single ticket that has either the Etihad Airways “EY” or the Air Seychelles “HM” flight code, and travelers can earn frequent flier miles on each flight, making the entire trip more convenient and hassle-free.
While the Seychelles flag carrier has a number of codeshare agreements with airlines of the Etihad Airways Partners group, including Air Berlin and Alitalia, this is the first time that it will have codeshare connections to the United States, making its attractions, such as the breath-taking forest of coco-der-mer palm trees on Praslin or the idyllic beaches on the haven of La Digue, much more accessible to holidaymakers and business people this side of the Atlantic.
Plus, travelers will be able to experience the products and services of both airlines; the world-class and innovative products of Etihad Airways as well as the kaleidoscopic culture of the Seychelles on-board Air Seychelles flights. For example, from San Francisco, travelers can fly on Etihad’s three-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and once in Abu Dhabi transfer onto a modern Airbus A320 jet with Air Seychelles.
Codeshare flights with partner airlines are a key way in which Air Seychelles is opening up Seychelles to the world and providing more travel options for those daydreaming of a little timeout in paradise.
Roy Kinnear, Chief Executive Officer of Air Seychelles, said: “This is a fantastic development that has expanded our network reach across the Atlantic for the first time, providing American travelers with easy connections to the Indian Ocean islands. By working together with Etihad Airways we have established air links between Seychelles and six of the most important cities in the United States, from the vibrant, 24-hour metropolis of New York to the entertainment capital and home of Hollywood, Los Angeles.”
The Seychelles is becoming increasingly popular with travelers from the United States, with over 6,000 having visited last year, representing a year-on-year increase of more than 33%. The announcement of the codeshare agreement will allow Air Seychelles continue to grow this number.
“At the same time, Seychellois traveling to the United States will now have more choice, convenience and flexibility when planning their trips abroad. The United States Customs and Border Protection facility at Terminal 3 in Abu Dhabi Airport is a purpose-built facility that allows U.S. bound passengers to process all immigration, customs and agriculture inspections in Abu Dhabi before they depart, so that when they arrive, they will be treated as domestic passengers, meaning they will save time connecting to other flights or on to their final destination,” Mr. Kinnear said.
“This is a fantastic development that has expanded our network reach across the Atlantic for the first time, providing American travelers with easy connections to the Indian Ocean islands. By working together with Etihad Airways we have established air links between Seychelles and six of the most important cities in the United States”
Roy Kinnear, Chief Executive Officer, Air Seychelles
“Our codeshare deal with Etihad Airways perfectly encapsulates the power of partnerships, as it has enabled us to connect our beautiful islands to destinations on all sides of the world.”
Jöel Morgan, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Transport and Air Seychelles’ Chairman, said: “This, most recent, development of the existing partnership between Air Seychelles and Etihad Airways has now expanded our brand as a carrier to the sixth continent, reflecting our continuing efforts to build our presence in emerging travel markets. Establishing this air bridge will give additional push to the growth of inbound tourism to Seychelles, and is another successful milestone for our national airline and Seychelles.”
The new codeshare flights have been available for purchase since July 2016 through travel agents, by visiting airseychelles.com or etihad.com, or by calling the Air Seychelles or Etihad Airways contact centers.
Air Seychelles was established in 1978 and began long-haul service in 1983. The airline currently offers international flights to Abu Dhabi, Antananarivo, Beijing, Johannesburg, Mauritius, Mumbai and Paris. Air Seychelles also offers more than 200 domestic scheduled flights a week throughout the archipelago, including domestic charter services.
As the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles, Air Seychelles is a pillar of tourism, the island nation’s strongest and growing economic sector. The airline maintains a strategic partnership with Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates and 40% stakeholder.
0 COMMENTS