Etihad Airways landed in Seychelles for the first time on Wednesday November 2, starting its four weekly flights to the islands.

The first Etihad Airways flight was received with the traditional water-cannon welcome as it taxied into its parking bay in front of the Seychelles International Airport.

With a picture perfect setting, Sir James Mancham, Seychelles Founding President, was the first dignitary to walk down the arriving steps and was welcomed by Foreign Affairs minister Jean-Paul Adam, Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) chief executive Alain St Ange, Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCCA) chairman Captain David Savy, who is also a director of the STB, and SCAA chief executive Gilbert Faure.

Also flying on Etihad Airway’s inaugural flight to Seychelles were secretary of state Barry Faure, UAE ambassador to Seychelles H. E. Mallallah Mubarak, Etihad Airways vice-president UAE sales Hareb Almurhairy, Etihad Airways country manager Seychelles Rashed Al Shabi, Etihad Airways vice-president international and public affairs Vijay Poonoosamy, Etihad Airways regional general manager Europe Jean-Marc Crescent and regional general manager Levant and Africa Raymond Korban.

Seychelles’ Creole music was performed live as passengers walked into the arrival hall of the International Airport from the full Etihad Airways flight.

The two new flights routes by Etihad Airways to Seychelles and the Maldives means the airline has now moved into the tropical island leisure destination. A formal lunch to celebrate the launch of Etihad Airways in Seychelles was held on Thursday November 3.