Ethiopian Airlines Airbus A350 on inaugural flight to Seychelles |25 July 2016
After welcoming the Ethiopian Airlines B787 Dreamliner for the first time in February last year, Seychelles witnessed the historical maiden flight to our island of the Ethiopian Airline’s Airbus A350.
This formed part of a tour of different destinations the airline serves in Africa.
One hundred and twenty passengers disembarked from the 333-seat aircraft, Africa’s first and most technologically advanced A350.
The flight which touched down at 3.40pm originated from the airline’s hub in Addis Ababa where holidaymakers of different nationalities from its 92 destination networks mingle and take connections to various dream holiday places including Seychelles.
The ministers for Foreign Affairs and Transport and for Tourism and Culture Joel Morgan and Alain St Ange respectively, officials from the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB), the chief executive of the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) Gilbert Faure, destination management companies’ (DMC) representatives as well as other guests were at the airport to witness the moment.
As is customary for all inaugural flights, the plane received a water canon salute before grounding to a halt just opposite the arrival lounge where passengers received flower garlands on disembarking and a taste of our traditional culture through a kanmtole dance performance.
The guests present led by the two ministers were then taken on a tour of the aircraft where they appreciated and admired its state-of-the-art and technologically advanced features.
Ethiopian Airlines’ area manager based in Seychelles, Meseret Tekalign, said afterwards, “it is always a pleasure when a new aircraft touches the land of paradise; it means that passengers will experience the extra effects of cutting edge technology”.
She went on to reaffirm the airline’s commitment to offering products of global standard for the best value to each and every traveller to and from Seychelles.
Ethiopian Airlines currently operates four weekly flights to Seychelles after it resumed services to our shores almost two years ago.
Minister St Ange thanked Ethiopian Airlines for “showing the world that Africa has its own might in the world of aviation and in passenger care”.
He called on the airline to bring the aircraft to our shores more often thus ensuring passengers from China and the Americas visit our shores.
“We appreciate your partnership and support and we wish you continued success on the Seychelles route,” Minister St Ange said.
For his part Minister Morgan described the over US $330 million fuel efficient aircraft as prestigious not only for Ethiopian Airlines but for Africa as a whole.
With ample leg room between the seats, not only in business but in economy class as well, Minister Morgan said this is a great experience for passengers.
“Seychelles is honoured that Ethiopian Airlines has been able to bring the aircraft here as part of its flagship tour of Africa. It says a lot for us and we express our appreciation to the management and crew of the airline,” Minister Morgan said.
Looking at the statistics Minister Morgan noted: “It is with perseverance that the airline has increased the number of visitors it transported here in 2015 to just under 15,000 passengers and a 51% growth to date compared to last year is a sign the airline is making a success story out of its connections to Seychelles and as we depend a lot on tourism this is very important for us.”
The two ministers, the crew of the aircraft, staff of Ethiopian Airlines based here as well as other guests then cut a cake to commemorate the historic moment.
