Emirates steps up frequency to the Seychelles

In response to increasing consumer demand for travel to the Seychelles, Emirates the world's fastest growing inter-continental airline will be increasing its services to the destination to five flights per week.

Starting 2nd June, the airline will add one extra flight to its present four-times-a-week schedule.

Additional flight EK 705 will operate every Thursday, taking off from the ultra-modern Dubai International Airport at 02:10 and arriving in the Seychelles at 06:50, thus giving passengers an early start to their holiday. Return flight EK 706 will depart from the Seychelles on the same day at 08:15 and arrive in Dubai at 12:45. Currently, the award winning airline operates every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday with the same departure and arrival schedules as mentioned above.

The additional frequency brings about an increase of 25 per cent in passenger and cargo carrying capacity. Nabil Sultan, Emirates Senior Vice-President Commercial Operations West Asia & Indian Ocean said: "Customer demand for our services to the Seychelles has been steadily building up and we are very pleased to offer an additional weekly service. This not only brings in greater seat capacity on the route but also gives our passengers more flexibility in planning their journeys."

He added: "We also are happy to contribute with our additional flights to help dispel the impression that the Seychelles was affected by the December Tsunami. In fact this is not the case, and the island's infrastructure was left intact."

Emirates services to the Seychelles - its fifth island in the Indian Ocean - were launched in January 2005 with thrice-weekly flights. In March 2005, the airline added one more flight to the destination bringing the current total to four flights per week.

Emirates operates an Airbus A330-200 on the route, offering 25 seats in Business and 245 in Economy class, plus up to 17 tonnes of cargo capacity.

The new frequency will boost Emirates SkyCargo's total weekly cargo capacity between Dubai and Seychelles to 85 tonnes in each direction.

The award-winning cargo division transports fresh and frozen seafood from Seychelles to its hub in Dubai and onwards to its global network.

From Dubai, Emirates SkyCargo carries perishables and high-end goods to the import dependent country.