1971
Opening of the Seychelles International Airport on Mahe,
the main island. 1971-1981 Dramatic increase in the number of passengers
leads to the building of short air strips on two other Islands,
Praslin and Fregate, both 29 miles from Mahe. 1977 A company is formed by the government of Seychelles
to take over several small aircraft operators and rationalise
the inter-island routes, leaving other companies to bring
in visitors from Europe. 1978 The government company is renamed: ’’Air Seychelles’’
is officially created, initially as a Domestic airline. Oct. 1983 Opening
of the first weekly flight to Europe: Mahe-Frankfurt-London
using a DC10 from British Caledonian. 1989 Air Seychelles acquires a brand new Boeing 767-200
ER (Extended Range).
The delivery of this new aircraft involves a direct flight
to Mahe from Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA and the 8,893 miles
(14,311 km) covered set a new distance record for a commercial
twin-jet aircraft. 1993 The Boeing 767-200 serves London, Paris, Frankfurt,
Zurich and Rome.
During that year, the airline carried 40 per cent more passengers
than in the previous year. Air Seychelles acquires a Boeing
757 to serve Madrid, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Dubai, Mumbai
and Singapore. Dec. 1996 Air Seychelles receives a brand new Boeing
767-300ER and returns its Boeing 757. Oct. 1997 Air Seychelles and Air Mauritius commenced
flights to one another’s islands. Initially using leased
B737’s and later progressing to their own B767’s.
Air Seychelles and Air France likewise launched into full
Joint Venture between Paris and Seychelles using Air Seychelles
B767’s. April 2001 Air Seychelles acquires its second Boeing
767-300ER and returns its Boeing 767-200ER. Nov 2001 Air Seychelles acquires its first Boeing
737-700 to serve regional routes. APR 2005 - Withdrawal
of the B737 and reorganisation
of the route network.
