SEYCHELLES INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS TAKES OFF INTO COVID-19 HEADWIND
If prudence and an ability to read the market are key qualities in Business, then Seychelles International Airways and its Seychellois CEO Robert Marie have plenty of them, and they should serve the fledgling airline well at take-off in these trying times.
On September 10 it plans to take off dead against a headwind of Covid-19, at a time when many airlines are either grounded or losing serious money, but Marie and his Seychellois shareholders are playing it safe by starting with Cargo flights before venturing into passenger territory.
The concept of the airline was born in 2011, when Air Seychelles, the national carrier, started having financial troubles resulting in redundancies. Marie, who was a pilot for the company at the time, said he was worried that if Air Seychelles went bankrupt, Seychelles would see the same situation as in 1985 when British Airways, Air France and other airlines had dominance in the island nation.
To venture into the aviation business, Marie said that an investment of $20 million to $50 million has been made by both local and foreign banks and a partnership with a France-based company, Euro-Africa Trading.
The first flight to be operated by a chartered AirbusA340-600 which belongs to an unknown company is expected to carry a delegation of 40 people to meet the company’s team and government officials, as well as 30 tons of cargo.
