Dubai: Air Seychelles is heading back to Paris in July, albeit five months behind schedule after previously announcing the route would relaunch in February.
There will be two weekly services to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport from July 2 via Abu Dhabi and codesharing with Etihad.
It announced in December 2013 that it would relaunch the service by flying to Paris Orly from February. However, this never eventuated.
An Air Seychelles spokesperson said that the delay in re-starting the route and switch in airports was due to constraints at Orly.
In 2012, Air Seychelles axed its direct services to Charles de Gaulle, along with other long-haul services, after 25 years of flying to Paris.
The same year, Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways took a 40 per cent equity stake in the then-unprofitable carrier along with a five-year management contract. The Seychelles government holds the other 60 per cent.
Air Seychelles has since launched other long-haul services and declared profitability.
“Our return to Paris marks another milestone in Air Seychelles’ journey of growing its international operations,” said Manoj Papa, Air Seychelles’ chief executive.
Emirates, which also flies to Paris, is increasing Seychelles services to double daily from October.
