Air Austral confident of profitability of their Reunion – Seychelles route

Air Austral confident of profitability of their Reunion – Seychelles route
 

Seychelles recorded 1655 travellers from Reunion Island week ending 5th April 2015 or 265 % over last year and 31% over 2013. In 2014, 4417 travellers from Reunion visited the Seychelles compared to 2869 in 2013. A large segment of visitors travelling to Seychelles booked their seats on Air Austral’s weekly direct flights. Air Austral’s seat capacity is 160. Air Austral believes that although the Seychelles- Reunion route is profitable, more efforts need to be invested.

 
During his official mission in Reunion Island, Alain St.Ange,  the Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture and the chief executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board Sherin Naiken paid a courtesy call to Marie- Joseph Malé President and director general of Air Austral and Jean – Marc Grazzini deputy commercial director general of the company to take stock of the company’s successes and discuss how Seychelles can further help boost the Reunion- Seychelles route.

 
Minister St.Ange said it is in the interest of Seychelles to work with Air Austral and make this route profitable. ‘’ We wanted to work with you to consolidate the working partnership and make this route profitable’’. Minister St.Ange outlined besides flying passengers to and from Seychelles, the airline could tap into freighting cargoes from Seychelles to Reunion and vice- versa. "Seychelles has potential to export its fish to Reunion island. We have good quality of fish and fish mongers interested to tap into this market’’. the Minister said.
 

Minister St.Ange also highlighted his willingness to work with the French Ambassador in Seychelles to ease administrative procedures. ‘’ The administrative procedures for Seychellois to travel in Reunion is not healthy for the airline company and the destination. We should find a way to make it much easier for Seychellois to travel to Reunion’’ said Minister St.Ange.

Air Austral said its passenger’s tariff to Seychelles is competitive. Air Austral airline ticket to Seychelles starts at 350 Euros. Mr Grazzini said the tariff varies depending on low and peak season. He also said freighting cargo to and from Seychelles is a project which the company is willing to venture into and one which he said had been issued of discussion. Mr Malé said the company is confident of the airline’s profitability on the Reunion-Seychelles route. Minister St.Ange concluded his meeting by assuring Air Austral of the Seychelles Tourism Board’s decision to post one of its representatives in Reunion to market the destination and work closely with Air Austral to push forward the agenda tabled in the meeting.