After much talk, much deliberation, much negotiation, China has arrived!

 This was how the chief executive of Air Seychelles, Roy Kinnear, described the arrival of the Air Seychelles’ non-stop inaugural flight HM888 from Beijing, China, which touched down at the Seychelles International Airport at 10.40am yesterday with 208 guests on board following a long haul journey.

As is customary, the airline was welcomed by a ceremonial water canon salute and a delegation consisting of Joël Morgan, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Transport and chairman of Air Seychelles; Alain St Ange, Minister for Tourism and Culture; senior management of Air Seychelles and the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB), Chargé d’Affaires in the Chinese embassy Zhang Xiangyang, as well as representatives from the travel trade and media.

Before embarking on the flight in Beijing, guests were pleasantly surprised by the inaugural celebration organised in the departure gate at the Terminal 3 of the Beijing International Airport where the national airline’s chief executive and representatives of Beijing International Airport, Oriental Sky Aviation Services (Air Seychelles Ground Service Agent) and travel trade, greeted guests and unveiled the inaugural flight banners officially announcing the boarding of the first non-stop air link between Seychelles and China.

While boarding the flight HM888, all guests were presented with special certificates to commemorate the historic service.

Upon landing in Seychelles, guests were warmly greeted by Air Seychelles cabin crew and presented with freshly-picked frangipani flower garlands and red colour envelopes, provided by the STB, containing symbolic value gift of R10 notes which are usually presented in China at social gatherings such as Chinese New Year.

Describing the event as another milestone in the history of Seychelles and Air Seychelles, Minister Morgan said the arrival of that inaugural flight is in line with the airline’s policy of diversification of our markets ensuring that we have more robust industry in tourism sector by helping to bring in more people from different markets to make us less affected by different economic situations as occasionally occur in different parts of the world.

“We are extremely proud to welcome the first flight from Beijing this morning. This marks the start of another exciting chapter for Seychelles as a country and Air Seychelles as it enters one of the fastest-growing travel markets in the world.

“This year we mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Seychelles and China, and I am confident our friendship will continue to strengthen with this important new air bridge,” said Minister Morgan.

He added it is also about the country’s air transport connectivity to the rest of the world and China represents an important trading partner of Seychelles.

The minister spoke of Air Seychelles’ intention to bring in a fourth aircraft in the second part of the year, a second A330, that will further enhance the country’s connectivity.

Minister St Ange said: “In 2015, China has grown to become the sixth-largest source of inbound tourism in Seychelles, with almost 14,000 visitors recorded. Scheduled non-stop Beijing service will build on this position, bringing even larger numbers of leisure travellers to our islands and making a significant contribution to local businesses and the people of Seychelles.”

He also talked about the government of Seychelles diversifying its tourism industry and described the arrival of that flight from Beijing a great day in that direction.

“When we work together and in unity, everything is possible,” said the minister, hailing the collective work of the airline, the trade and tourism authority, all pulling together to have a new link from a source market.

“We are delighted to welcome the first guests travelling on our new scheduled non-stop flights from Beijing to Seychelles.

“We have ensured that they receive the onboard service that is tailored to the Chinese market, with Mandarin-speaking cabin crew, Chinese language and subtitled films on the inflight entertainment system and traditional dishes on the menu, with chopsticks available,” said the national airline CEO.

He said the visitors also get the chance to experience our famous Creole spirit and warm hospitality as they fly across the Indian Ocean.

“The number eight is considered to be one of the luckiest in Chinese culture, and with the success of the first HM888 flight, we are confident that this route will prove to be a success as Air Seychelles continues to expand and bring more tourists to our island paradise,” said the CEO Kinnear.

The Air Seychelles Beijing non-stop service was recently launched at an event organised by Air Seychelles in Beijing where STB’s CEO Sherin Naiken said it was a proud moment and an important milestone in the development of the Chinese market to finally have a direct flight connecting Seychelles and China.

“The flight is an important catalyst for the future growth of this market,” she said, thanking Air Seychelles for making it happen.

“Our priority for this market is in working closely with our national airline to grow the market so that soon we will be able to increase the frequencies and provide our visitors from the Far East with more choice for travel,” said Ms Naiken while also remarking that the direct Beijing market will also boost emerging ones STB is currently developing, like South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

Both inaugural flights HM887 (Seychelles – Beijing) and HM888 (Beijing – Seychelles), were operated by Seychellois pilots captain Mervin Sicobo and first officer Cubert Bonnelame and attended by Seychellois cabin crew and a Mandarin-speaking ambassador.

Forrás: www.nation.sc