Air Seychelles to start flying passenger freighters from Dubai to Johannesburg

April 08, 2020: Air Seychelles will be operating a series of cargo flights using its passenger aircraft across Seychelles to maintain the supply chain of goods. 

Charles Johnson, chief commercial officer of Air Seychelles said, “As the national carrier, and following our mandate to ensure continuity of trade with Seychelles, we are pleased to work with local companies to coordinate their inbound cargo requests with countries where borders remain open. Starting this week we are also operating cargo-only flights to Dubai and Johannesburg on a weekly basis. Additional destinations are available upon request.”

The first cargo flight was operated from Abu Dhabi to Seychelles on April 6 using its A320neo aircraft. The airline carried a total of 10 tonnes of goods to the island comprising of food products, courier and a large proportion of medical supplies which is pivotal for the fight against Covid-19, as reported by ATC News.

The same aircraft operated a second cargo flight from Johannesburg to Seychelles on April 7, carrying mostly pharmaceuticals, perishables and general cargo weighing over 6 tonnes. 

The decision to operate all-cargo flights follows the closure of the Seychelles International Airport for commercial passenger services and the soaring demand in the market to ensure the supply of essential goods.

To meet the requirements of the regulator and the local health authorities, the cargo flights are being operated under the strict guidance of the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority and the local ministry of health.