Emirates starts Seychelles route on 2nd January

The fast-growing, Dubai-based international airline also has announced the appointment of UAE national Mohammed Ahmed bin Ghannam as its Area Manager Seychelles. Prior to this assignment, Mr bin Ghannam had held several management positions within the company including Area Manager Tanzania since 2003 and Area Manager Uganda for the two preceding years.

"I am delighted and honoured to have been given the opportunity of establishing Emirates' first ever presence in the Seychelles," said Mr bin Ghannam. "I am also working enthusiastically with my Airport, Sales & Reservation teams towards ensuring that our operations are ready for the start of Emirates services in less than a week."

Emirates' first flight EK 705 will depart Dubai at 02:10 and touch down at Seychelles International Airport on Mahe Island at 06:45. Return flight EK 706 will take off from the Seychelles at 08:00 on the same morning and arrive at Dubai International Airport at 12:30.

The Airbus A330-200 aircraft which Emirates will use on this new route offers 54 seats in Business class and 183 in Economy, along with up to 15 tonnes of cargo.

Operating every Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday, Emirates' new service will boost connections between the picturesque islands of the Indian Ocean and Dubai, one of the world's fastest-growing commercial hubs.

Through Emirates SkyCargo, the new service is also poised to help the Seychelles' exporters of fresh and frozen seafood to send their products to Middle East markets and points beyond, and to support the local tourist industry's needs for perishables and high end goods.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, Emirates' Executive Vice President Commercial Operations Worldwide said: "Since September, when Emirates first announced its decision to start flying to the Seychelles, our teams have been getting ready to launch the new services. Emirates has selected airport and city centre offices which are currently undergoing renovation and will be operational soon."

He added: "Even before the start of services, Emirates has already rolled out a long-term campaign to promote travel to the Seychelles from throughout the Middle East, Europe and the Indian Sub-continent. The Seychelles will benefit from the increased inbound tourism and trade that we will help to develop, as well as from the Emirates direct investment in the country's economy."

Emirates Holidays, the largest tour operator in the Middle East, has recently concluded a series of road shows dedicated to promoting the Seychelles in key Middle East cities including Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Bahrain, Doha, Damascus, Beirut and Kuwait, besides Dubai itself.

At the road shows, which were held jointly with the Seychelles Tourism Marketing Authority, Emirates Holidays unveiled a new 36-page colour brochure dedicated exclusively to the islands. Including all the main islands - Mahe, Praslin and La Dique - the Emirates Holidays Seychelles brochure offers well planned itineraries for leisure holiday makers, honeymooners and sports enthusiasts.

Emirates Holidays will also promote the Seychelles through its network of 22 offices across the Middle East.