Air Seychelles (HM) has revealed a fresh codeshare collaboration with SriLankan Airlines (UL), facilitating travelers journeying between Seychelles and Sri Lanka to access a broader array of destinations. This announcement follows closely on the heels of Air Seychelles inaugurating flights to the South Asian nation nearly a year ago.
Commencing April 20, 2024, travelers journeying between Mahé, the principal island of the Seychelles archipelago, and Colombo, Sri Lanka's bustling metropolis, will experience upgraded travel choices and improved connectivity. Air Seychelles patrons will gain entry to more than 20 destinations, encompassing the highly sought-after cities of Sydney and Melbourne in Australia, along with prominent urban centers in India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Likewise, patrons of SriLankan Airlines will now have the opportunity to travel between Colombo and Mahé. Through a codeshare alliance, the two flagship airlines can designate their codes on each other's flights, facilitating travelers to seamlessly proceed with their journey under one reservation, with their luggage checked through to their ultimate destinations. Additionally, passengers can make bookings with both airlines via online travel platforms and local travel agencies. Addressing the recent collaboration, Richard Nuttall, CEO of SriLankan Airlines, remarked,
The codeshare partnership comes nine months after Air Seychelles launched non-stop flights to Sri Lanka. The inaugural flight landed at Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) on June 21, 2023. The airline operates two weekly flights from Mahé to Colombo with its Airbus A320neo aircraft. The new connection significantly reduced the travel time between the two cities from up to 12 hours to approximately four hours. Air Seychelles and SriLankan initially signed an interline agreement that introduced multiple cities within the Southeast Asia region to the local market's choice of destinations. Air Seychelles CEO Sandy Benoiton added,
In the previous year, the airline also finalized a codeshare pact with Qatar Airways. Air Seychelles extends its international reach across five destinations in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, linking Mahé as its hub to Johannesburg, Mauritius, Colombo, Mumbai, and Tel Aviv. Furthermore, it manages up to 30 roundtrip flights daily to Praslin, the archipelago's second-largest island, and conducts diverse charter services to other islands utilizing its twin otters. Meanwhile, SriLankan Airlines operates flights from Colombo to 36 international destinations spanning 20 countries.