Qatar Airways is increasing capacity to the Seychelles for this summer after the country announced it planned to open up to international visitors from March 25.
The airline will fly three services a week from its hub in Doha to the Indian Ocean archipelago on board a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Visitors to the Seychelles must present a negative PCR Covid test taken 72 hours before departure, but there is no quarantine requirement for those arriving via Doha – but visitors to the Seychelles must adhere to local health measures such as wearing a face mask and social distancing.
International leisure travel from the UK is currently banned, and will not return until at least May 17. Qatar Airways operates between Heathrow and Doha, in Qatar.
The airline’s chief commercial officer Thierry Antinori said: “We resumed our flights to the Seychelles in December 2020. Now the islands are opening up further for visitors, we are delighted to offer more seat availability and an enhanced and sustainable experience for our passengers using our Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
“We know the authorities in the Seychelles remain vigilant and visitors will still be required to adhere to public health measures put in place in view of the pandemic these will include wearing of face masks, social distancing and regular cleaning of hands.
Seychelles Tourism Board chief executive, Sherin Francis, added: “We are happy that Seychelles is back online with clear entry criteria and simple travel measures. We depend a lot on our airline partners to complement our efforts in restarting this industry, one which is very important for Seychelles given its contribution to the economy.
“The availability of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner by Qatar Airways on the Seychelles Route will add to the capacity but more importantly the comfort of the guests’ journey to Seychelles. At a time like this, every little bit of enhancement in the guest experience counts.”