Aviation History
Air Seychelles was formed in 1977 through the merger of Air Mahé and Inter-Island Airways, shortly after Seychelles' 1976 independence, and grew from inter-island Twin Otter services into an international carrier. The airline set a world distance record on its 1989 Boeing 767 delivery flight, later entered a strategic partnership with Etihad Airways (2012–2021), and is now again fully owned by the Seychelles government.
Air Seychelles was created on 15 September 1977 through the merger of Air Mahé and Inter-Island Airways, initially operating as Seychelles Airlines.
The carrier adopted the Air Seychelles name it retains today.
Air Seychelles began international service with a leased DC-10 operating to London via Frankfurt.
A Boeing 767-200ER delivery flight from Michigan, USA, to Mahé set a world distance record for a commercial twin-engine jet, covering 14,311 km nonstop.
Etihad Airways took a 40% equity stake in Air Seychelles as part of its network of minority airline investments.
Following Etihad's exit, the Government of Seychelles reacquired full ownership of Air Seychelles.
Air Seychelles
Wikipedia, Airways Magazine, airline corporate history
Aviation Firsts
Seychelles International Airport — Victoria / Mahé (1972): 20 Mart 1972'de Kraliçe II. Elizabeth tarafından resmen açıldı, bu da gayri-resmi uçuş operasyonlarının (Mombasa'dan bir Piper Navajo feribot servisi, 4 Temmuz 1971'de iniş yapan bir BOAC VC10) yerini aldı. Seyşeller'de ayrı, daha eski bir havalimanı/pist belgelenmiyor — bu ülkenin tek önemli havalimanı ve gerçek anlamda tartışmalı değil. · Wikipedia ↗
Air Seychelles (1977): 15 Eylül 1977'de Seychelles Airlines olarak kuruldu (Eylül 1978'de Air Seychelles'e yeniden adlandırıldı), hükümetin iki küçük mevcut işletmeciyi (Air Mahé ve Inter-Island Airways) birleştirmesiyle oluştu. Bu öncül taşıyıcılar mevcut kaynaklarda tarihlenmemiş, bu yüzden ayrı 'en eski havayolu' claim'i olarak doğrulanamadı — Air Seychelles 1977'den itibaren ülkenin resmi havayolu olarak raporlanıyor. · HM ↗ · Wikipedia ↗
No documented foreign entrant found. Seychelles International Airport's own history shows ground handling was run first by the government's Directorate of Civil Aviation (from 1972) and then by "Aviation Seychelles Company" (formed 1973, took over by 1974) — both domestic/state entities, with no indication either was ever superseded by a foreign handler. Air Seychelles' own site describes its in-house ground services department (which also services other airlines at Mahé) but names no third-party foreign handler. No Swissport/dnata/Menzies/NAS/Çelebi/Havaş/WFS presence found for Seychelles — Swissport's own "Swissport Executive Aviation" listing there is dateless and VIP-only, excluded per rule.