Air Seychelles' rescue plan: deal reached to pay $27.8m of $76m debt

In October last year, Air Seychelles appointed two administrators to find a solution to its debt obligation. (Air Seychelles)

(Seychelles News Agency) - Air Seychelles will pay off only $27.8 million out of the $76 million initial debt owed to bondholders as part of the national airline's rescue plan in an agreement between the company's administrators and its creditors.

One of the administrators, Bernard Pool, said in a press release on Friday, that consultations will continue between the administrators, Air Seychelles and the government to ensure the conditions set within the plan are met in full.

"Whilst the financial aspects of the rescue plan remain our immediate pre-occupation, the restructuring of Air Seychelles, which forms part of the rescue plan, will then need to be addressed," said Pool.

Air Seychelles and the administrators, who at the moment are managing the company until agreements with the creditors have been finalised, declined to comment further.

Recently, the government of Seychelles undertook negotiations with the Etihad Airways to find a solution to its debt obligation after the island state took back full ownership of the national airline in April 2021.

In October last year, Air Seychelles appointed two administrators – Bernard Pool and Suketu Patel – to initiate the airline's reorganisation process after a petition was filed by the Apex Trustees Bondholders on August 19, 2021, for the winding up of Air Seychelles to recuperate their investment made in the airline.

In 2012, Etihad Airways entered a partnership with Air Seychelles and bought a 40 percent share in the national airline. The remaining 60 percent belonged to the government of Seychelles, a group of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean.

Under the original deal, the funds provided by bondholders were to be split between the United Arab Emirates' carrier and its partner airlines. Each company assumed the responsibility to pay off its debt before the bond reached its due date in 2021.

Under a May 2016 deal, Air Seychelles, Air Berlin, Air Serbia, Alitalia and Jet Airways signed up for a $500 million platform financing transaction via EA Partners II, with 6.75 percent notes due in 2021. Air Berlin, Jet Airways, and Alitalia have since gone bankrupt.

Air Seychelles, the national airline of Seychelles, was established in 1978 and began long-haul service in 1983. The airline offers both international and domestic flights.