Air Seychelles starts daily flights to Bird Island, supporting increase in visitors to local destination

Daily flights to Bird Island -- 100 kilometres north of Mahe -- began in August up from four weekly flights. (Bird Island Lodge)

(Seychelles News Agency) - The Seychelles’ national airline is increasing the number of flights it offers to the archipelago’s Bird Island following an agreement signed with the owner of the island’s resort.

According to the owner and manager of the Bird Island Lodge, Alex Savy, the island resort is seeing an increase in the number of people travelling to the island for holiday. The resort’s marketing department told SNA that this year they have been receiving between 400 and 500 visitors per month.

Air Seychelles said in a statement released on Wednesday that the daily service, up from four weekly flights, is aimed at offering “more choice and convenience” to visitors travelling to the privately-owned Bird Island from mainland Mahe.

The airline’s chief executive, Roy Kinnear, said that the additional flights will “increase its [Bird Island’s] exposure in the world tourism market.”

Air Seychelles' chief executive and Bird Island Lodge's owner and manager Alex Savy signed the agreement to increase the number of the airline's flights to the island. (Air Seychelles) Photo License: CC-BY

Tourism is the mainstay of the Seychelles' economy. Air Seychelles offers both domestic and international flights.

The daily flights to Bird Island -- 100 kilometres north of Mahe -- began in August. The flights will only be unavailable for about a month during the December/January holiday period when the resort is closed to visitors.

Bird Island has 24 simple chalets with no access to television, phones or air conditioning. The lodge targets visitors looking for a relaxed, island-living experience and interaction with nature.

The island -- often referred to as an ecotourism destination -- welcomes over a million migratory seabirds each year.