Air Travel

The International Airport is on Mahé, 8 km (5 miles) south of Victoria. If you're coming from safari, you can catch flights departing from both Nairobi and Johannesburg twice a week (Kenya Airways and Air Seychelles). If you're coming directly to the Seychelles from the United States, it's often cheapest (and necessary) to route through the Middle East; look for cheaper airfares direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Airlines with international routes include Air Seychelles, Emirates, Condor, Etihad, Air Austral, Mihin Lanka, and Ethiopian Airlines. Many cheaper fares route through Dubai or Abu Dabi.

The domestic terminal at Mahé will handle departures for all flights within the Seychelles—that is, the almost hourly 15-minute flight (US$144–US$225 one-way) to Praslin—and any of the other private islands (there’s no airport on La Digue). Domestic flights are handled by Air Seychelles and the Island Development Company (the latter handles the outer islands and Desroches Island). Luggage limits are 20 kg (44 pounds). You can also charter a private helicopter to many private islands through Zil Air.

Contacts

Air Austral. 248/428–8909; www.air-austral.com.

Air Seychelles. 439–1000; www.airseychelles.com.

Condor. 49–6171/698–8920; 866/960–7915; www.condor.com.

Emirates. 429–2700; 800/777–3999; www.emirates.com.

Ethiopian Airlines. +27 21/819–7028; +1 800/445–2733; www.ethiopianairlines.com.

Etihad. 27–11/343–9140; 888/838–4423; www.etihad.com.

Island Development Company. 438–4640.

Kenya Airways. 866/536–9224; www.kenya-airways.com.

Mihin Lanka. Ebrahim Building, Francis Rachel St., Victoria, Mahé, Inner Islands. 432–3110; 422–4516; www.mihinlanka.com.

Zil Air. 437–5100; www.zilair.com.