(Seychelles News Agency) - The Air France group will resume direct flights to Seychelles as of next year with the launch of its subsidiary airline, Joon.

The first flight of the low-cost airline to Seychelles will leave Paris Charles de Gaulle on May 5 and arrive to the 115-island archipelago in the western Indian Ocean the next day. The Airbus A340 will be making three flights per week.

Air Seychelles, the national airline of the island nation, already has three weekly flights to the French capital.

Described by Air France Group as a new breath of air in the airline business, Joon is “aimed at a young working clientele, whose lifestyles revolve around digital technology.”

“Joon has more innovative programmes onboard - there will be virtual glasses in business class as well as bioproducts - and a strong level of service,” said Christian Oberlé, the general manager of the Air France for the Indian Ocean Area.

He also added that the service that will be provided will be the same level as those provided onboard Air France but at a lower cost.

“We are convinced that there is space to develop traffic with different segments of clients. We feel that the flights will be a success and help to contribute towards the economical development of Seychelles. 

The Minister of Tourism, Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, said that representatives from Air Seychelles, the Seychelles Tourism Board and the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority will, as of Monday, October 2, hold discussions with representatives of Air France on technical areas of their operations to Seychelles.

“It necessary to see how we can cooperate and have a good development on the French market to bring French tourists to Seychelles, a development that has to be well coordinated to ensure that France remains the first tourist market to Seychelles,” said Loustau-Lalanne, during a press conference on Monday.

According to the local National Bureau of Statistics, France currently holds second place in terms of visitor arrivals to Seychelles with almost 30,000 visitors to date for the year.

The chief executive of Air Seychelles, Roy Kinnear, said that Air France is free to operate in Seychelles as there is an “open-sky” policy in place.

“Air France has launched three flights per week [to Seychelles], two of which are the same operation days as Air Seychelles [to Paris]. [During the discussions] we need to be clear about what is right for Seychelles as a country,  and what is right for Air Seychelles,” said Kinnear.

Tourism is the top contributor to the Seychelles’ economy and the island nation is linked with the rest of the world with flights operated by big airlines like Qatar, Emirates, Turkish Airline and others.