HISTORY

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.