Air Seychelles, the national airline of the Republic of the Seychelles, today announced details of its new direct flights from Mah? to Abu Dhabi.This follows last week’s announcement that Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, would form a strategic partnership by taking a 40 per cent stake in the airline, Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE said in a press release.

Complementing Etihad Airways’ existing four weekly services from Abu Dhabi to Mah?, March 12 will see Air Seychelles inaugurate two weekly return services on the route. Effectively, the new schedule will offer six direct services per week between Abu Dhabi and Mah?, increasing to seven per week from June 2012.These Air Seychelles flights will operate on a Boeing 767-300ER series aircraft, in a two-class configuration, offering a total of 844 seats each week.

A key benefit to travellers of the new Air Seychelles non-stop Mah?-Abu Dhabi service is convenient flight arrival and departure times and connectivity from Mah? with Etihad Airways’ codeshare flights through Abu Dhabi to the Far East, Australia, the Indian Subcontinent and the Gulf region.Etihad Airways guests, particularly from key feeder markets of Germany, France, Italy, Belgium and the United Kingdom, will also benefit from the increased connectivity options in travel to Mah? and onward destinations across the Air Seychelles network, such as Mauritius and Johannesburg.

Cramer Ball, Air Seychelles Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Seychelles have already proven to be a hugely popular holiday destination amongst Etihad Airways guests. With these additional two Air Seychelles weekly flights, we look forward to successfully serving the route, tourism and business at each end and beyond.Etihad Airways commenced services itself to the Seychelles on November 2, 2011.