Air Seychelles launches all-cargo domestic service

Air Seychelles, the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles, today announced the launch of a once per week all-cargo service between the two largest islands of Seychelles on the Shorts 360 aircraft. 

The cargo service will target perishable commodities destined for hotels and other tourism establishments on Praslin, offering seamless connections to Air Seychelles flights from Johannesburg and Abu Dhabi.

All shipments destined to Praslin will be customs cleared in Mahe. Consignee trucks on Praslin will be given access to the airport ramp to facilitate off-loading on to the trucks for quick and seamless distribution to customers.

The Shorts 360 aircraft has been retrofitted to operate as a cargo aircraft, and can now carry up to 3500 kilograms of cargo with a volumetric capacity of 1309 cubic feet. 

Air Seychelles Chief Executive Officer, Manoj Papa, said: “This is a step-change for our domestic business, a reinforcement of how we are aligning our network, fleet, and service portfolio, domestic and international, to support the local tourism industry and encourage more trans-shipment cargo into the Seychelles.

We saw record growth in cargo in 2013 as well as strong growth in our domestic operations. This service takes our domestic business to a new level, strengthening cargo services for our customers.”

The all-cargo service follows the launch of a cargo chiller and freezer facility at the newly refurbished cargo terminal at Seychelles International Airport in February.

The inaugural Shorts 360 freighter flight flew with 73 pieces, 730 kilograms of perishable cargo on Monday, March 31, arriving on Praslin fresh and cool.

The cargo flights will operate under the code HM3300 departing Mahe at 09:00 every Monday to arrive Praslin at 09:15. Flight HM3301 will return as a scheduled flight departing Praslin at 10:15am. More scheduled flights will be added subject to market demand.