Air Seychelles Welcomes Inaugural Flight From Abu Dhabi After Six Year Hiatus

Air Seychelles welcomed their inaugural flight from Abu Dhabi on Saturday, May 24th, following a six-year hiatus of Middle East operations.  The arrival was marked by a traditional water cannon salute and welcome ceremony.

Air Seychelles Celebrates Resumption of Service Between Abu Dhabi and the Seychelles

On Monday (May 26, 2025), Air Seychelles announced the resumption of services to/from the Middle East with the arrival of their inaugural flight, HM19, from Abu Dhabi touching down at Seychelles International Airport at 12:35 with 157 passengers on Saturday, May 24th.  The arrival was marked by a traditional water cannon salute and welcome ceremony attended by key dignitaries, government representatives and travel trade partners.  Operates with the carrier’s Airbus A320neo named ‘Pti Merl de Zil’, the inaugural flight was commanded by Captain Rajesh Nair and First Officer, Samuel Lautee.

During the welcome ceremony on Saturday, the Seychelles’ Minister for Transport, Mr. Antony Derjacques, said,

“The strategic advantages of this development are manifold, and the enhanced connectivity is poised to boost tourism, a cornerstone of our economy, and stimulate trade opportunities.  Air Seychelles’ expansion reflects our nations resilience and ambition on the global stage.”

Also commenting at the welcome ceremony, Air Seychelles’ CEO, Sandy Benoiton, added,

“This achievement signifies more than just the return of a route; it represents our renewed commitment to connecting Seychelles with key international markets, opening new horizons for our travelers, and supporting our economy through increased tourism and business opportunities. Today’s milestone would not have been possible without the unwavering dedication, hard work, and passion of our entire team.  Their commitment to bringing this operation to life—meticulously planning, coordinating, and executing every detail—has truly been inspiring. I want to express my deepest appreciation to each and every member of the Air Seychelles family for turning this vision into reality.”

Air Seychelles is the national carrier of the Seychelles and has operated for over 45 years.  The carrier is wholly-owned by the Government of Seychelles, and operates regionally from their home base in Mahe to Colombo, Tel Aviv, Johannesburg, Mumbai and Mauritius with state-of-the-art Airbus A320neos.  Domestically, Air Seychelles operates up to 30 daily return flights per day to Praslin, the archipelago’s second largest island, as well as various charters to other islands with their De Havilland Canada Twin Otter fleet.  Additionally, Air Seychelles offers ground handling services to major commercial and private airlines at their base in Mahe Seychelles.

Source: Air Seychelles