Qatar Airways lands in Seychelles as Africa networks expands
Qatar Airways has rounded off its 2016 global route expansion with the launch of daily flights to the idyllic islands of the Seychelles – the 14th new destination on the airline’s route map this year and the third in Africa.
Flight QR678 touched down at Seychelles International Airport earlier to a welcome ceremony attended by airport and government officials, together with local dignitaries.
Qatar Airways chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: “Our aim is to provide our passengers with greater choice and variety when selecting their holiday destinations.
“We are sure that the Seychelles is going to be a popular option with many travellers from Europe and the Middle East looking for an exotic island getaway.
“With this new service, holidaymakers can seamlessly connect to the Seychelles via our state-of-the-art home and hub in Doha, Hamad International Airport.”
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The destination comprises 115 tropical islands in the western Indian Ocean, located off the east coast of Africa.
Its airport is located on the island of Mahé near the city of Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles.
Visitors can experience the Vallée de Mai Nature Preserve on the island of Praslin, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Seychelles National Botanical Gardens on Mahé, or, of course, enjoy the white sand beaches the islands are known for.
Seychelles minister for tourism, Alain St Ange, said: “We are happy to have Qatar Airways, the world’s five-star airline, fly to Seychelles.
“The array of scattered islands with their lush green natural landscapes, white sandy beaches, and turquoise blue sea promise visitors the adventure of a lifetime.
“The new services will add important value to the thriving tourism industry with huge potential to boost traffic from Europe and further expand the emerging Middle East and East Asia’s travelling markets amongst others.”
The Seychelles is key to Qatar Airways’ global network expansion strategy and its continuing growth in Africa.
The airline currently operates to 23 African gateways, including the recently launched service to the Namibian capital of Windhoek, which joined the airline’s route map in September 2016.
The Doha to Seychelles flight schedule offers an attractive 08:50 morning arrival and 19:25 evening departure so travellers can take full advantage of their time on the islands.