Seychelles boosts summer connectivity as Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and Aeroflot ramp up flight
Seychelles is poised for a significantly stronger summer tourism season as three influential international carriers, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and Aeroflot, resume or expand services to the Indian Ocean archipelago earlier than in previous years. The return of these airlines is a clear vote of confidence in the destination's enduring appeal and is expected to substantially improve global access during what has historically been the quieter summer travel window.
The first to relaunch operations is Qatar Airways, which resumed its flights to Seychelles International Airport at Pointe Larue on 16 June 2026. The Doha-based carrier now operates four weekly services every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, further strengthening the islands' connectivity through one of the world's busiest aviation hubs. Travellers from across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East will benefit from convenient one-stop connections to more than 150 destinations worldwide, opening exciting opportunities for African outbound agents looking to promote Seychelles as a premium leisure escape.
Adding further momentum, Turkish Airlines resumed its flights to Seychelles on 17 June, marking its first summer operation to the destination in three years. The carrier had previously offered only a seasonal programme between late October and March, suspending services during the summer months. The renewed presence of Turkish Airlines, operating with a comfortable Airbus A330-300, will link Seychelles directly to Istanbul, a major global crossroads providing seamless access to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America. During the initial launch period, the airline will run two weekly flights on Wednesdays and Sundays, before adding a Friday service from the week commencing 6 July to bring the total to three weekly rotations.
The Russian market is also set for a meaningful lift, with Aeroflot scheduled to resume operations on 8 July 2026. The carrier will run two weekly flights on Wednesdays and Saturdays, restoring valuable seat capacity from one of Seychelles' historically important source markets. This development is particularly noteworthy at a time when the destination is actively diversifying its visitor base, ensuring that no single market becomes overly dominant in its tourism mix. For African travel professionals, the wider lesson is clear: maintaining a balanced portfolio of source markets is becoming a defining feature of resilient island tourism strategies.
Reacting to the enhanced connectivity, Seychelles Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Ms Vesna Rakic said that in a period of intense global competition for travellers, the decision by these three carriers to expand their presence in Seychelles serves as a powerful endorsement of the destination. She underlined that improved air connectivity remains central to tourism growth, offering visitors greater choice while reinforcing accessibility from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Russia. Ms Rakic also extended sincere appreciation to the airline partners, noting that their continued confidence is essential to sustaining strong international links and supporting the long-term success of the islands' tourism economy.
Encouragingly, she hinted that further positive developments may be on the horizon, with ongoing discussions within the aviation sector potentially leading to additional route announcements in the coming months. While formal confirmations are still pending, the outlook is described as highly promising. Together with airline and trade partners, the Seychelles Tourism Board remains squarely focused on driving demand and ensuring the long-term sustainability of air services into the country.
For the African travel trade, these developments carry several practical implications. Seychelles continues to position itself as one of the most accessible and luxurious island destinations in the Indian Ocean, and the expanded summer schedule offers fresh opportunities for tour operators to package honeymoons, family escapes, wellness retreats and high-end leisure experiences with greater flexibility. The combination of Qatar Airways' global reach, Turkish Airlines' European and Asian network and Aeroflot's Russian connectivity means African agencies can craft creative multi-market itineraries that blend Seychelles with cosmopolitan stopovers in Doha or Istanbul.
As the busy summer season unfolds, Seychelles is sending an unmistakable message to the world: the islands remain firmly open, exceptionally well-connected and ready to welcome travellers from across every continent, with African source markets very much part of the future growth story.
