Air Seychelles to Introduce Istanbul Service

Flights will start in May and operate twice per week.

Lorne Philipot

Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

An Air Seychelles Airbus A320neo. (Photo: Air Seychelles)

Key Takeaways:

Air Seychelles will launch a limited-time direct service between Mahe and Istanbul, operating twice weekly from May 2 to June 27.
The flights will utilize a leased 249-seat Airbus A330-300.
This new route aims to support tourism recovery in the Seychelles, especially due to impacts from Middle East conflicts, and complements recently started flights from Paris.

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Air Seychelles will commence limited-time service between Mahe and Istanbul in May.

Flights will operate twice per week from May 2 to June 27, the carrier said, using a 249-seat Airbus A330-300 leased from HiFly.

Flights will depart Istanbul at 10:15 p.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays and will arrive in the Seychelles at 7 a.m. the following day. Flights depart the Seychelles at 8:50 a.m. and will arrive in Istanbul at 3:55 p.m. the same day.

The Mahe-based airline said the route will support access for tourists. Conflict in the Middle East has severely impacted the Seychelles because many visitors travel to the country with Gulf-based carriers.

The airline has also recently started up flights from Paris to enhance connectivity for international visitors.

Lorne Philipot

Lorne is a South Africa-based aviation journalist. He was captivated and fascinated by flying from the day he took his first airline flight. With a passion for aviation in his blood, he has flown to destinations in all corners of the globe. Lorne has traveled extensively and lived in various countries. Drawing on his travels and passion for aviation, Lorne enjoys writing about airlines, routes, networks, and new developments.