Air Seychelles returns to Paris while expanding partnerships and achieving second year of profits

Many will rejoice that Air Seychelles is to resume flights to Paris on 02-Jul-2014. The old Air Seychelles, operating as an independent company, had a long and painful withdrawal from Europe as fuel prices and the global financial crisis made services prohibitively expensive.

Under a new partnership with Etihad, Air Seychelles launched a moderate network, flying to Johannesburg, Etihad's hub at Abu Dhabi as well as serving Hong Kong. But Europe - the core market for the Seychelles - remained linked only via Etihad codeshares and not the flag carrier's own metal. While the Seychelles decided its carrier needed to be sustainable, and so introduced Etihad's involvement, there were emotional ties to the old days.

Twice-weekly services to Paris CDG arrive five months later than planned and will be routed via Abu Dhabi, allowing Air Seychelles to pick up passengers from Etihad to fill the A330-200 that Air Seychelles would struggle to fill sustainably on its own. Meanwhile a limited partnership with Cathay Pacific helps Air Seychelles on its other long-haul route. Air Seychelles has reported its second annual profit while CEO Cramer Ball, who arrived after the Etihad partnership, has left, giving the reins to Manoj Papa.