From December 1, 2026, Ethiopian Airlines will operate two daily flights between Addis Ababa and Mahé, adding over 1,000 seats per week on the route. A strategic announcement timed precisely six months ahead of the festive high season — the most lucrative period of the year for Seychelles tourism.
A Well-Calibrated Capacity Doubling
Ethiopian Airlines currently operates one daily flight between its Addis Ababa hub and Mahé International Airport. The new service, operated by a Boeing 737 (16 Business Class, 138 Economy seats), runs alongside the existing schedule to create a true double-daily. Arrival and departure times are optimized for intercontinental connections: the new flight arrives at 16:20 and departs at 17:50, while the existing morning service is maintained.
As a Star Alliance member, Ethiopian Airlines provides seamless connections with Lufthansa, SWISS, United Airlines, Austrian Airlines, and dozens of partners — putting Seychelles effectively within reach of travelers from Europe, Asia, the Americas, and the Middle East via a single African hub.
Market Diversification: The Strategic Objective
Vesna Rakic, CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board, welcomed the decision: additional capacity “will offer travelers greater flexibility” during high season, a critical window for the archipelago's revenues. The deeper rationale is structural: reducing dependence on traditional source markets — Western Europe, Southeast Asia — to shield the tourism economy from geopolitical crises that can suddenly disrupt routes from specific regions.
Ethiopian Airlines' expansion also reflects a broader trend: African carriers are accelerating their presence on Indian Ocean islands, historically served primarily by European and Gulf operators. A rebalancing of the regional aviation market that benefits island destinations most reliant on long-haul traffic.
A Vital Sector for the Archipelago
Tourism is the primary pillar of the Seychelles economy. Each additional seat during the festive high season — Christmas, New Year — translates directly into revenues for hotels, restaurants, local transport, water activities, and artisan businesses. High season is also the key recruitment and training window for a labor market that operates under chronic pressure on these small islands.
Why This Matters
In an archipelago where tourism conditions economic balance, doubling air capacity from Africa six months before Christmas is not a routine operational update — it is a major strategic move. Ethiopian Airlines consolidates its role as continental hub; Seychelles gains resilience and international reach. A win-win equation whose effects will be visible in December 2026 revenue figures.