Starting July 1, 2021, the Seychelles islands will be more accessible for travelers from Saudi Arabia as the Saudi Arabian-based airline, FlyNAS announced direct flights from Jeddah to Mahé.
FlyNAS will commence its nonstop flights operating three times a week from Jeddah, with fast connections to or from Riyadh and Dammam. Operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, the 5 hr40 minute flight will be operated on and brand new A320 Neo aircraft with a capacity of 174 seats.
The new flights, which will make traveling to Seychelles easier for residents of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, were initiated in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, alongside the Seychelles Tourism Board and the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority.
Accessible as never before, and with no visas required from any nationality, Seychelles, a land of diversity and discovery is a great place to spend quality time and to reconnect with nature. See hotel offerings in Seychelles.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest outbound market in the Middle East and with many in the Kingdom looking to go overseas after the opening of borders, the Seychelles Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism Mr. Sylvestre Radegonde said, “The destination has recorded approximately some 300 Saudi Arabian since January 2021. With the arrival of FlyNAS to our shores, the Ministry of Tourism is looking forward to seeing an increase in the number of visitors from the Saudi Arabian Region. The three weekly flights to Seychelles from Jeddah represent another great opportunity for our destination, as not only will Seychelles be accessible directly to Saudi Arabian nationals but also the expatriates living in the Kingdom.
The timing for these new flights is also opportune. The beginning of the hot summer in the Gulf corresponds with the onset of our own cooler drier months here in the islands. Seychelles is ideal for families and we look forward to welcoming families and honeymooners as well as expatriates from the Kingdom, to experience the pleasure of being outdoors amidst the verdant nature and cooling oceans.”
Speaking about the upcoming arrival of FlyNAS to its shores, Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) Chief Executive, Mrs. Sherin Francis, welcomed the flights, saying the country is pushing forward with increasing the destination’s reach and attracting new visitors worldwide.
“We are excited that FlyNAS and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have finally opened up the Saudi Arabia-Seychelles route. We anticipate that this new route will greatly enhance the visibility of our destination in Saudi Arabia and its neighboring regions. We believe that this will help build travel confidence towards the Seychelles islands, not having to connect through other countries also makes it easier and more convenient. We are very happy to open our shores to all travelers traveling from and via Saudi Arabia to Seychelles. It is an amazing opportunity for us to welcome them to Seychelles and to provide them with an excellent time with many beautiful experiences,” said Mrs. Sherin Francis.
Mr. Ahmed Fathallah, STB representative in the Middle East, added, “We are delighted to share this news with everyone. For a while now, the lack of direct flights has been a determining factor for travelers in the Kingdom who want to experience Seychelles. These non-stop flights will not only help the travellers but also our trade partners in the travel industry, as this will make it easy for them to direct their valued clients to the sunny islands of Seychelles.”
Before departure from Jeddah, visitors, regardless of vaccination status, are requested to apply for entry through the Health Travel Authorization (HTA) website at seychelles.govtas.com.
Other entry requirements include for travelers to present their negative PCR test results taken within a maximum of 72 hours prior to their arrival and proof of valid travel health insurance covering any potential COVID-19 related costs.
Visitors will not be subjected to any quarantine or movement restrictions on arrival. However, they must follow the existing health regulations, including the use of facemasks in public and social distancing. It is to be noted that Seychelles has one of the world’s most rigorous vaccination programs, vaccinating most of its population COVID-19 ahead of opening up to tourism earlier this year.
Flights are already available for booking at Flynas.com and through travel agents.
