Seychelles welcomed Air Tanzania to its first inaugural flight
On Sunday, 3rd May 2026 at 06.35 a.m., Seychelles International Airport proudly welcomed the inaugural flight of Air Tanzania.
Present at the airport to witness this historic event were the Minister for Transport, Ports and Civil Aviation, Ms. Veronique Laporte; the Minister for Tourism and Culture, Mrs. Amanda Bernstein; the Principal Secretary for Ports and Civil Aviation, Mr. David Bianchi; the Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Ambassador Ian Madeleine, the Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Airports Authority (SAA), Mr. Colin Chang Tave; the Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA), Mr. Garry Albert as well as other representatives from SAA, SCAA, and Air Seychelles.
The occasion stands as a testament to the continued strengthening of seamless air connectivity within Africa and the enhancement of air links across the East African region and the Indian Ocean. The launch of this new service represents a significant step forward in improving regional mobility and fostering stronger economic, tourism, and cultural ties between Seychelles and Tanzania. It will facilitate more efficient travel within Africa and beyond through expanded hub- to- destination links.
To commemorate the occasion a short ceremony was held at the airport where upon her arrival, the Air Tanzania Airbus A220 was greeted with a traditional water-cannon salute.
Among the passengers on board were the Minister for Transport of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Professor Makame Mbarawa; the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Dr. Ngwaru Jumanne Maghembe; the Chairperson of the Standing Committee of Parliament on Infrastructure, Mr. Moshi Selemani Kakoso; and Members of the Standing Committee of Parliament on Infrastructure and several Members of Parliament.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to officially welcome the first passengers and crew to Seychelles. This was followed by a short tête-à-tête meeting led by Minister Laporte, during which it was discussed that the primary focus would be to further explore the two routes and maximise capacity between Seychelles and Tanzania.
In his opening remarks, PS Bianchi welcomed Air Tanzania into the growing network of airline partners. He underlined that their arrival in Seychelles is a testament to their confidence in Seychelles as a destination and in the continued growth potential of our aviation sector.
“The introduction of this service between Dar es Salaam and Seychelles marks another significant step in enhancing regional connectivity within Africa and across the Indian Ocean. It reinforces our commitment to supporting greater mobility for air passengers and fostering deeper cultural, economic, tourism and trade exchanges. It offers increased travel options and improved access to Seychelles via Tanzania.” he said.
Addressing the ceremony, Professor Makame Mbarawa said that this new route is a symbol of progress, strategic cooperation, shared vision and a renewal of aspiration between Tanzania and Seychelles where it builds a vital bridge connecting market, people-to-people links and economic opportunities. Furthermore, he stated that it provides a unique opportunity to show the tourism treasures and vibrant cultures from both nations.
“This is a clear testament that air transport is a key driver of modern economic development. The direct link connections will bring significant benefits including reducing travel time and lower cost between Tanzania and Seychelles. Secondly, it will improve convenience for people and business travelers,” said Professor Mbarawa.
Air Tanzania will operate three times a week—on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays—arriving in Seychelles at 06:15 LT and departing for Dar es Salaam at 07:15 LT.
Passengers arriving on the inaugural flight were welcomed with local souvenirs and cultural performances by traditional dancers, offering them a warm Seychellois reception.
Source : Seychelles Airports Authority
