Air Austral will revive its direct Seychelles-Réunion service from June 3. The flights will operate twice a week, using a Boeing 737-800.
The flights depart Réunion on Mondays and Wednesdays at 19h20, arriving in Seychelles at 22h00. The return flights depart Seychelles the following day at 09h55 and arrive in Réunion at 12h04. A codeshare agreement between Air Austral and Air Seychelles is being finalised. At the moment, flights are not programmed in the GDSs and there is no information available with regard to the fares.
The airline suspended the route between the two islands in May last year due to profitability issues. According Lenél Vining, Air Austral Manager South Africa, the airline, together with the Réunion and Seychelles authorities, has carefully studied different ways of returning profitability to the route. She says the airline has signed agreements with tour operators marketing Seychelles out of Paris to ensure its profitability and has also established a partnership with the Réunion and Seychelles Tourism Boards for marketing the route.
Tour operators have welcomed the direct link between the two islands, saying it will boost tourism to both destinations. Deborah Calmeyer, CEO of Roar Africa, says the new route is sure to boost combination packages.
Lenél says numerous tour operators have already approached the airline, as they are keen to start marketing combination packages. “Combining the two destinations – Réunion, with its myriad activities and places to see, and Seychelles with its pristine beaches – makes for a fascinating holiday.”
