Air Seychelles sets up regional cargo operation

A NEW regional cargo operation has just been opened by Air Seychelles, according to Ian Mayne, who handles the airline’s cargo sales at SA agents Aviation GSA. The operation is aimed at increasing cargo capacity from SA and Kenya to cater for the needs of the Seychelles market, he told FTW. The service was launched in mid-June using an 11-ton capacity quota on the SAA/Lufthansa freighter to Nairobi, and on to the Seychelles in the national carrier’s newly-leased, 15-t capacity Antonov 12F freighter. “However,” said Mayne, “we are intending to increase the SA-Seychelles capacity further with one of the possibilities being the acquisition of cargo space with British Airways (BA), if it re-opens its flights from SA via Nairobi.” The national airline is also aiming to develop Seychelles as a regional cargo hub in the south-west Indian Ocean region, according to Air Seychelles g.m. freight services, Majid Allibhaye. “In line with that strategy the Antonov will proceed onwards from Seychelles to the Comores, carrying cargo from the inbound Air Seychelles flight from Paris.”