Air Seychelles launched its new service to Colombo, Sri Lanka, last week.

The inaugural flight landed at Bandaranaike International Airport in the early hours of June 21, after leaving its home base of Mahé the night before at 22h05.

Air Seychelles will offer twice weekly flights to Colombo, leaving Seychelles on Tuesdays and Saturdays and from Colombo on Wednesdays and Sundays. The route will be operated on an Airbus A320.

Sandy Benoiton, Acting CEO of Air Seychelles, said: “Colombo is one of the largest markets unserved by a nonstop flight in our region. Seychellois love coming to Sri Lanka for several reasons, with tourism and medicine being at the top of the list.” He added that a large number of Sri Lankans working in Seychelles, primarily in hospitality and construction, also needed easier access to their home country. 

“Currently, to fly between Seychelles and Sri Lanka, travellers must go via one of the Gulf carriers, which can take 10-12 hours of journey time, and at considerable expense. Our nonstop flight allows for a total journey of approximately four hours.”