(Seychelles News Agency) - The much awaited connecting flight between the Seychelles and Paris will start on July 02, 2014, now that Air Seychelles has been granted the necessary approval by the French Civil Aviation Authorities, the national carrier of the Indian Ocean island has announced in a press statement issued this afternoon.

Tickets for the flights are already on sale, which will enable French tourists, the most numerous visitors to the islands, to fly with greater ease.

Air Seychelles’ airbus A330-200 will operate two return flights per week between Seychelles and the French capital city via Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive Manoj Papa has described the launch of Seychelles/Paris flight as another milestone in the company’s quest to expand its international operations to and from its main markets.

“France has deep cultural and historical ties with the Seychelles and these new flights will allow more travellers to visit our island nation both for business and for leisure,” said Papa in the statement.

“The response from stakeholders has been great.  Travel agents, tour operators and business partners now have additional choice and accessibility options, which will help to further promote what the Seychelles has to offer."

The Paris-Seychelles service will operate out of Charles de Gaulle Airport’s Terminal 2A, but as yet it does not offer onward connection to other French cities, although the airline has plans for this in the future. The airline will operate the flight using its Airbus A330-200, which offers 18 business class lie flat seats and 236 economy seats.

The Chairman of Air Seychelles’ Board, Joel Morgan, says approval by the French authorities for the Seychelles carrier to fly to Paris strengthens the already strong ties between the two countries.

“Air Seychelles’ return to Paris has been a key target of our long-term business strategy, and thanks to our equity partner, Etihad Airways, we have been able to launch the flights faster than may have been achieved otherwise,” said Morgan who is also the archipelago’s Minister for Home Affairs and Transport.

“I am pleased that we have been able to respond to the demands for links to Paris from stakeholders and tourism partners, locally and overseas.”

Seychelles-Abu Dhabi-Paris schedule:

Seychelles has depended on Middle East carriers Emirates airline, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways  for its passenger traffic from Europe, the main market of its tourists, since Air Seychelles stopped its direct flights to Europe, including flights to Paris, in early January 2012, following huge losses on the routes.

Air Seychelles entered into a strategic partnership with Etihad in 2012, where the UAE carrier bought a 40 percent stake, which enabled Air Seychelles to sell codeshare tickets on its European destinations, and others around the world.

The new Paris flight adds to already existing connections offered by Air Seychelles to and from more than 50 cities in 23 countries across Europe.

In 2013, Seychelles saw a record number of visitors coming primarily on holiday to the islands, with a total of 230,272 tourists.

Top 8 countries- NSB Statistics- 2013

                Country                           Visitor Arrivals

              1. France                                 35,698

              2. Germany                              33,424

              3. Italy                                      21,662

              4. Russia                                  14,125

              5. UAE                                      13,836

              6. South Africa                           13,212

              7. UK & Eire                              12,514

              8. China                                      7,714