Air
Seychelles signs
lease for second
Shorts 360 aircraft.
Victoria,
Tuesday 22nd
November 2005 — The
introduction
of the second
Shorts 360 aircraft
to Air Seychelles’ inter-island
fleet is seen
as another major
investment in
providing more
seating capacity
to Praslin and
is aimed to further
improve the comfort
of the Mahe – Praslin
flights.
Air Seychelles’ has signed a Letter of Intent with the UK-based BAC Leasing Company for the purchase of a second 36-seater Shorts SD 360-300.
The introduction of the second Shorts 360 aircraft to Air Seychelles’ inter-island fleet is seen as another major investment in providing more seating capacity to Praslin and is aimed to further improve the comfort of the Mahe – Praslin flights.
Air
Seychelles’ Chief
Executive and Chairman,
Captain David Savy
has said : “The
new Shorts 360
will definitely
increase seating
capacity and also
provide better
comfort and luggage
space. This is
in line with the
increase in visitor
numbers being experienced
in Seychelles and
the demand of capacity
to coincide with
international flight
movements.
The
acquisition of
a second Shorts
360 is a significant
step for our domestic
operation and it
demonstrates that
Air Seychelles
is looking towards
delivering a higher
standard of customer
service. Likewise
the addition of
a further 36 seats
in our fleet equates
to an increase
of 38% in capacity”.
The
aircraft will undergo
a complete refurbishment
and painting in
Air Seychelles
colours before
departing UK for
Seychelles. The
Shorts 360 aircraft
has a record for
providing several
airlines worldwide
with a hard-working,
reliable and low
cost service for
years. This type
of aircraft has
been designed for
short-route sectors
which do not require
a pressurised cabin.
It has a reputation
for being a unique
regional aircraft
which offers more
interior space
for passengers.
In
comparison to the
20-seater Twin
Otters of which
Air Seychelles
has three, it can
also carry significantly
more baggage per
passenger. The
new Shorts 360
aircraft has a
retractable undercarriage,
is propelled by
six-bladed Hartzell
propellers and
powered by two
Pratt & Whitney
turboprop engines.
The seating configuration
(two seats-aisle-
and one seat)is
identical to the
current Shorts
360 aircraft acquired
in September 2002.
The
second Shorts 360
aircraft is planned
to enter Air Seychelles’ domestic
operations once
all formalities
regarding registration
and airworthiness
are completed.
The
second Shorts
360 will increase
seating capacity
and offer new
levels of passenger
comfort: more
interior space
for passengers
with stand-up
room in the
cabin and larger
baggage holds.
