Aviation authority hosts Routes Africa to mark 41st anniversary

The Department of Transport and the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) yesterday commemorated the 41st anniversary since the landing of the first jet aircraft, a BOAC VC10, at Seychelles International Airport on July 4, 1971.

The celebration of this event this year comes when a series of major events are taking off in the aviation industry of Seychelles. This includes the 40th anniversary celebrations by some of the original members of civil aviation staff, the arrival of Air Seychelles new Airbus 330 aircraft today and the Seychelles Routes Africa 2012 from July 8-10 co-hosted by SCAA and the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB).

The Routes Africa 2012 will present a special platform for airports, airlines, tourism and other stakeholders to network and discuss emerging business opportunities for the development of air travel to, from and within Africa and the rest of the World.

The SCAA has been a key player from inception to the realisation of the Routes Africa event which kicks off this Sunday.

“This event is coming to Seychelles at an opportune time when we are strengthening our efforts to improve air links and at the same time ensuring the diversification of routes to our country,” says SCAA’s chief executive Gilbert Faure.

“During this event, we will meet with several airlines and see how we can better welcome them to Seychelles.”

SCAA, in partnership with STB, Air Seychelles and many other partners in the aviation and tourism industry has invested significantly to ensure that the event is successful. To date we have a record number of 262 delegates representing airlines, airports, civil aviation authorities and tourism authorities taking part in the event which is so far proving to be the largest Routes Africa event yet.

The event will also provide a once in a lifetime opportunity for Seychelles to showcase its assets, including our paradisiacal destination, our cosmopolitan culture through the various tours but more so during a networking evening with a tropical ambiance on the evening of Monday July 9.

“The Department of Transport fully supports this initiative which has received the full commitment and backing of the Seychelles government, and the SCAA who has allocated significant resources to ensure the success of this event which will demonstrate the commitment of Seychelles to the development of the air transport industry in the region,” says Joel Morgan, Minister for Home Affairs and Transport.

The event will be held over a period of three days at the Kempinski hotel where aviation decision makers will attend a strategy forum, briefing sessions, exhibitions and one on one meetings.

Contributed - Seychelles Nation