Air Seychelles signs Memorandum of Understanding with the Seychelles Tourism Academy

Air Seychelles today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA), establishing a framework for future collaboration in human resources development and training opportunities for Seychellois nationals.

The agreement opens the door for students wishing to develop a career in aviation through the delivery of training programs at the Seychelles Tourism Academy by senior trainers from Air Seychelles and Etihad Airways, supported by placements and internships within either airline for specific on-the-job training. 

The training programs and internships will focus on the many service-orientated positions within the airline industry, including cabin crew, customer affairs and ground services staff. Candidates who successfully complete the program will be considered for full-time positions.

Present to witness the MoU signing at STA’s campus in La Misere were Philippe Guitton, Chairman of STA, together with other directors of the Seychelles Tourism Academy, members of Air Seychelles senior management team, the media, and students from STA.

“The signing of this MoU is a thrilling endorsement of an initiative for the airlines to work together more closely with STA in delivering quality training and programs that provide support for students wishing to pursue a career in the service industry.

“Drawing upon our respective strengths, we have an exciting new opportunity to harmonise the service delivery of the ‘Seychelles experience’ on the ground and in the air.”

Cramer Ball, Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive Officer, said: “Our partnership with the Seychelles Tourism Academy will greatly assist us in our drive to develop a cadre of Seychellois with the skills to meet Air Seychelles’ rapidly growing needs.

“As the national airline of the Seychelles, we are delighted to provide further opportunities for STA students to engage with us during the formative stages of their careers and for us to support their development.

“Young Seychellois with a passion for customer service and a desire to work in the aviation industry will have a chance to start their careers earlier than ever before,” Mr Ball added.

Mr. Flavien Joubert, Principal of the Seychelles Tourism Academy said: “The STA has been the principal source of entrants to the local tourism industry, the nation’s strongest and growing economic sector, for decades.

At present 97 per cent of the airline’s workforce are Seychellois - and Air Seychelles, in collaboration with its equity partner, Etihad Airways, currently offers a number of scholarship programs for Seychellois trainees.

At present there are seven Seychellois nationals enrolled in the cadet engineer program, two in the graduate management program, and two in the trainee cadet pilot program.

Already this year, 65 Air Seychelles cabin crew members have attended specially designed programs at Etihad Airways’ state-of-the-art training facility at Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. A further 60 cabin crew recruits will depart for training later in the year.

Additionally, 25 fully licensed Air Seychelles pilots are currently undergoing type conversion training on the A330-200 aircraft at Etihad Airways’ training facility.