► SEYCHELLES: Kenya Airways adds extra flight to Mahé until late August.

Kenya Airways (KQ) has increased its services between Nairobi and Mahé, Seychelles with effect from July 6 until August 31. The new flight operates on Saturdays and is expected to handle the anticipated rise in demand for flights to the island. Equipment on this route varies according to demand.

► SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles inks codeshare with CSA Czech Airlines; Etihad codeshare now includes Australia

Air Seychelles has announced two new codesharing developments. Firstly, it has extended its codeshare agreement with equity alliance partner Etihad Airways (EY) to include new connections to Australia on Etihad flights operated via Abu Dhabi. Secondly, a new codeshare deal has been reached Czech carrier, CSA Czech Airlines (OK), in which passengers of the two airlines will be able to book and travel between Prague and the Seychelles on one ticket, while connecting via Abu Dhabi.

► SEYCHELLES: Qatar Airways to axe Seychelles flights from September.

Qatar Airways (QR) are set to abandon their daily A319-operated flights to Mahé, Seychelles with effect from 01SEP.

■ SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles, Seychelles Tourism Board sign MoU to promote the archipelago worldwide.

Air Seychelles (HM) and the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at increasing Seychelles’ visibility as a destination around the world by leveraging the airline’s expanding international network and growing number of airline partners.

► SEYCHELLES: Air Berlin, Air Seychelles sign codeshare deal.

airberlin(AB), Europe’s seventh largest airline, and Air Seychelles (HM), the national airline of the Seychelles, today signed a codeshare agreement which will see Air Seychelles’ HM code placed on four of airberlin’s daily return services between Abu Dhabi and Berlin, Düsseldorf complementing the island carrier’s existing 26 weekly codeshare connections with Etihad Airways (AY) to Frankfurt, Munich and Düsseldorf.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Comair Ltd, SAA, SA Airlink set sights on regional expansion.

South African Airways (SA), its subsidiary SA Airlink (4Z) and competitor Comair Ltd, the British Airways franchise holder in South Africa in addition to owning LCC Kulula, have applied for new frequencies to the Democratic Republic of the Congo amongst other destinations as South African carriers seek to broaden their market bases.

► MAURITIUS: Air Seychelles to operate select A330 service to Mauritius in December 2012 & January 2013.

Air Seychelles (HM) will operate a limited airbus A330-200 service between Mahé and Port Louis, Mauritius during the period December 2012 to January 2013 though only on selected dates. The route is currently operated with an Airbus A320.

► SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles announces new Mahé - Praslin timetable.

Air Seychelles (HM) has announced a new domestic schedule, effective October 28, which will see an increase in capacity between Mahé and Praslin by 38%.

► SEYCHELLES: Blue Panorama to axe Mahé flights?

Italian private airline Blue Panorama Airlines (BV), which operates scheduled and charter flights to various global destinations, is to drop its Italy-Seychelles flights from "mid September" onwards, citing poor loads and passenger numbers, as the Italian economy continues to reel amid the ongoing Eurozone crisis.

Blue Panorama Boeing 767 in Mahè, Seychelles (Okke Behm)

The seasonal charter flights presently operate from Milan-Malpensa and Rome-Fiumicino.

"The tourist board and private sector have to talk to the travel agents and the tour operators to accept the situation and start using for instance Etihad and then connect from Abu Dhabi with Air Seychelles to Mahe. The alternative is to use Qatar Airways or Emirates to come here"

Source [WolfgangThome's Blog]

Italian Tourist Arrivals in Seychelles (NSB)

After Air Seychelles dropped its European routes in January of this year, Blue Panorama moved to fill the void left. However, the departure of Blue Panorama itself would mean there are no longer any direct flights between the Seychelles and Italy - historically a strong source of tourists for the islands.

No official confirmation from Blue Panorama itself has been heard as of publishing.

[UPDATE 31 AUGUST 2012] Amadeus lists the last flight out of Milan Malpensa as leaving on 3 September 2012, with the last flight leaving the Seychelles on 5 September 2012.

► SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles increases Joburg flights from December.

Following the arrival last week of their Airbus A330-200 with another due in January 2013, Air Seychelles has announced the increase in its frequencies to Johannesburg, South Africa from the current 2x weekly, to 4x weekly, effective 1 December 2012.

► SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles boosts Mahe - Abu Dhabi service to 8x weekly; joins Etihad's FF program.

Seychellois national carrier, Air Seychelles (HM), has increased its frequencies between Mahe and Abu Dhabi to 8x weekly, using codeshared flights with partner airline Etihad. The flights will be operated by four times by an Etihad A320 and four times by an Air Seychelles A330-200 leased from Etihad.