[allAfrica]

Seychelles' national airline, Air Seychelles, was removed from administration in November 2022, after a tough period when the company had to undergo restructuring. Air Seychelles went into administration in October 2021 following financial difficulties after a petition was filed by the Apex Trustees Bondholders on August 19, 2021, for the winding up of Air Seychelles to recuperate investment made in the national carrier.   Since being out of administration, Sandy Benoiton, a certified pilot, took up the role of acting chief executive of the airline on July 1, succeeding Remco Althuis, who had led Air Seychelles since 2018. He was appointed permanently into the position on August 1, 2023 and the company has been working hard to get back on its feet and become the pride of Seychelles once more. SNA spoke to the CEO of Air Seychelles to learn more about what lies ahead for the company.   SNA: Tell us about where Air Seychelles is at the moment. SB: We have to go back to 2021 when we entered administration and after some restructuring in the company, we saw that in 2022, Air Seychelles was able to bounce back and get out of administration in November 2022. We saw then that we made a slight profit, where we then paid our debt to the bond holders, and now the only debt we have left is with the loan we took from Nouvobanq to be able to pay the bondholders. In 2023, we maintained the same strict financial policy, where we also looked at training our staff, and we are also continuously looking at other opportunities, as things can change very quickly, such as the conflict in Israel, which was a very good market for us, and we had to look at other areas.   SNA: Israel was a key market for Air Seychelles. How is the latest development in the Israel-Palestine conflict affecting Air Seychelles? SB: Obviously, when the conflict between Israel and Palestine started, the demand for flights fell, so of course we stopped. But we have re-started our flights to Tel Aviv this month, April, and all our flights are actually doing well. It remains an important route for us, and of course, all safety and security measures are being taken and we continue to monitor the situation.   SNA: What are the other routes Air Seychelles have at the moment? SB: We are continuing our flights to countries such as Mauritius, Johannesburg, Mumbai, and Sri Lanka. We have just signed a codeshare agreement with Sri Lankan Airlines, which will give us more flexibility. Our code will be seen beyond Sri Lanka to other places such as Australia. This new codeshare agreement will allow Air Seychelles and SriLankan Airlines to place their codes on each other's flights. (Air Seychelles) Photo License: All Rights Reserved    SNA: Which route is the most profitable for Air Seychelles at the moment? SB: At the moment, the routes we concentrate more on are Mauritius and Johannesburg, but seasonally we do have routes, such as Israel that are doing very well. But in general, the flights to Mauritius are doing the best.   SNA: During the pandemic era and a while after, Air Seychelles was operating cargo flights as well. Is that still going on? SB: We have completely stopped the cargo flights. Once passengers started filling the planes again, we stopped with it. But, what we are still doing, is we have a plane that is doing an aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance lease agreement. The plane is based in Dubai.   SNA: When you took over as the head of the airline, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic were still being felt. Is the company still feeling the effects of the pandemic? SB: Honestly, since 2023, we have forgotten about COVID-19, and now we are focused on the various international conflicts and our biggest concern is in regards to fuel. COVID-19 is behind us and passengers are back on the plane, so things have almost returned to pre-pandemic levels.   SNA: Does that mean Air Seychelles is profitable now? SB: Yes, it is. Over the past two years, it has been profitable. We still have some debt with Nouvobanq that we are still paying, but the company is financially stable now. Air Seychelles has been profitable over the last two years. (Air Seychelles) Photo License: All Rights Reserved     SNA: The restructuring brought in some difficult measures, such as pay cuts for staff. Has that affected staffing and morale in the company? SB: Air Seychelles was not just affected by the pandemic, but we also went through administration and that was not easy on the staff, especially those who had their salaries reduced. However, as we progress, we have seen that many people have returned to the company and the rate of people leaving Air Seychelles has also gone down. Last year, we had a salary review, where although not all, some salaries were returned to what they were previously.   SNA: There was a point where some changes were being made to Air Seychelles' ground handling at the airport. How has that been? SB: The idea was to ensure that there would be no instances where ground handling services would be put at risk, in case the company faces any difficulties in the future. In our restructuring plan, it was always seen that all our three units - ground handling, domestic and international -  would remain with Air Seychelles, which works well, and with all three we are moving towards full sustainability. To answer your question though, work has been done behind the scenes, where ground handling is now protected, where if anything happens to Air Seychelles, it will not affect the continuity of these services.   SNA: What's the future of Air Seychelles? SB: For now, we are still in the six-year rescue plan, where we are proceeding with caution, so we do not go back to where we were before. It can be very easy to get excited and end up back to difficult times, so we are taking precautions and also thinking outside of the box, when it comes to our route. We are very happy at the moment, and we want to finish paying off all our debts, but we are already looking at something, such as expanding into the Asian market. In terms of expanding our fleet, we will look at around 2026/27, if there is availability, we will be looking to get a new plane that has a longer range, which will enable us to get into Europe.   SNA: On a personal note, you have headed Air Seychelles for almost three years now, although you were officially appointed last year. Tell us a little about your time at the company and the responsibility of leading the airline. SB: As I always say, I grew with Air Seychelles, where I was the chief operations officer before becoming CEO. For me, it was not a shock, it was simply a natural progression for me. For me, it's all about the resilience of everyone in the company that has made things work, which is my biggest pride. Because of these strong and professional staff, sometimes you don't realise how difficult things are because of the work being done by all the staff. I think we are all very blessed.  

Justin, 30, panicked fans when he posted pictures of himself crying with no explanation, prompting questions about his marriage to Hailey, 27.

Barbra Streisand has broken her silence on her barbed Instagram comment asking whether close pal Melissa McCarthy was using weight loss drug Ozempic.

ROBERT HARDMAN: Featuring a blue dinosaur pattern on a pink silk background, it is a cheeky play on his official 'Charles III Rex' cypher.

Migrants in Dublin's tent city today thanked Rishi Sunak for refusing to allow them back to Britain as they 'don't want to go to Rwanda'. Among those sleeping under canvas is Otumba (pictured).

Rebel Wilson stunned in red at the premiere of The Almond And The Seahorse at Vue West End on Tuesday night.

Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre was kicked out of parliament after calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a “wacko” Read Full Article at RT.com

A video of two women being paraded naked and sexually assaulted in Manipur, India triggered international outrage last year Read Full Article at RT.com

In his last May Day Rally speech at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre on Wednesday (May 1), Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong thanked Singaporeans, fellow Ministers, Members of Parliament and union leaders for their trust, confidence and support throughout his time serving Singapore. «It has been my great honour to have served you, including as your PM,» said Lee, who also shared that this is his 40th year in politics.  «I have strived to lead you and to govern Singapore in the way you deserve, to mobilise Singaporeans to show what we can do together.» Addressing a crowd of over 1,700 people including unionists from the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), Lee, 72, said that he has also prepared a leadership team to succeed him, one that deserves the confidence and support of Singaporeans.  «As I prepare to hand over Singapore in good order to my successor, I feel a sense of satisfaction and completeness,» he added. «I have done my duty, and I am very happy that I chose this path of public service all those years ago.»

Claverty Cottage, West Portland: A section of the roadway at Claverty Cottage in West Portland, which was rendered impassable due to multiple landslides, has been cleared through a joint initiative between the Portland Municipal Corporation (PMC)...

OF ALL the 50 nominees for the 2023 Prime Minister National Youth Awards for Excellence, held recently on the lawns of Jamaica House, Odane Brooks was the one selected to make the response on behalf of the nominees, at the end of the programme....

THE NATIONAL Fisheries Authority (NFA) is leaning heavily on the Jamaican parlance this year to drive home its messages to fisherfolk who catch lobsters during the annual close season, which runs from April 1 to June 30. The NFA is particulary...

The Sisters of Mercy of Jamaica will today, May 1, host an official ceremony to bless the new entrance to the Alpha Complex. The Alpha Complex, which is located at 26 Camp Road, is the site of six schools which are owned and sponsored by the...

St Johns Church, Waterloo, London: Making his last pitch to London voters ahead of the closely contested London Mayoral election on Thursday, two-time incumbent Mayor Sadiq Khan had a specific message for Jamaicans and West Indians last Friday....

The Supreme Court has sought a response from the Union government on a PIL questioning the irrational reduction in family pension for a deceased ex-serviceman who retired from the armed forces between 38 to 42 years with many unfulfilled family obligations.

AWBI advises banning harmful manja threads, in line with NGT. Some areas banned 'Chinese' manja and coated kite strings, opting for plain cotton. PETA India highlights fatalities, environmental harm, traffic accidents, and cows ingesting manja.

Libreville - le 30 avril 2024 Le Président de la Transition, Président de la République, Chef de l'Etat le Général Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema a présidé ce jour au Palais Rénovation la cérémonie marquant la clôture du Dialogue National Inclusif dont les travaux avaient été lancés le 2 avril dernier. Cette cérémonie solennelle a vu la participation de plusieurs hôtes de marque à l'instar du Professeur Faustin Archange Touadera, Président de la République Centrafricaine, Président en (...) - POLITIQUE / SUJET_ECRIT_MAISON

«Better Lives» is set to deliver high-impact health and nutrition services, including immunisation, maternal and newborn care.

MUNICH (AP) — Vinícius Júnior scored twice for Real Madrid to draw 2-2 at Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal on Tuesday.

Kenyans living in areas at risk of flooding or landslides will be asked to evacuate on Wednesday, the country's president has said.

V K Pandian discusses CM Naveen Patnaik's immense popularity, responds to BJP's criticism, questions BJP leaders' commitment to 'Odia asmita', and emphasizes BJD's focus on youth empowerment and good governance till 2036.

Since 2011, Vanuatu has made significant strides in reducing malaria burden across the country. In 2017, TAFEA Province was declared malaria free and in 2021, the Ministry of Health (MoH) launched a plan to eliminate malaria from within its borders…

P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Adventure through the Vanuatu Maritime Safety Authority (VMSA) has delivered a life-saving donation of 500 life jackets to Vanuatu’s Mystery Island.

Director General (DG) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MoIA), Leith Veremaito, announced yesterday that the Employment Act, as well as the Seasonal Employment Act is currently being reviewed.

The local recruitment agency, which has been receiving attention for purportedly recruiting workers for Canada, is not affiliated with the labour mobility program supported by the Vanuatu Government through the Department of Labour (DoL).

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urges all parties to work for a ceasefire and lasting peace

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing and Buenos Aires should pursue an independent foreign policy, eliminate external interference and support each other to accelerate the economic development of both countries

A bus can represent many things for many different people. For some, it's simply a way to get from point A to point B. Others see it as a place to be alone with their thoughts as they stare pensively out the window. For Mr Ong Guan Beng, it's been his «office» for the past 53 years. «I've seen some passengers since they were in primary school, until they went to university and became doctors - it's like I watched them grow up in my bus,» he said. The 74-year-old bus captain first started his career with SBS Transit as a bus conductor. He was just 21 years old at the time. In 1975, when the bus conductor role was phased out, Mr Ong trained to become a bus driver. From the moment he got behind the wheel, he took to the job like a duck to water. He enjoyed the routine of getting up early in the morning, going to the interchange and starting up his bus to take passengers wherever they were headed - as long as it was on his route. And it was along that route that he would meet the love of his life, Ms Low Ah Nia.

The body of a 33-year-old Vietnamese woman was recovered from the Singapore River near Clarke Quay last Friday (April 26).  The woman was identified as Dang Hoang Ly Na, a single mum who had just arrived in Singapore to work a week before her death.  Undertaker Roland Tay, who helped arrange the woman's funeral, told Shin Min Daily News in an article published April 30 that Dang came from a small village in Vietnam.  She was reportedly separated from her husband and had an 11-year-old daughter. Dang was also the only child in her family and her parents are in their 70s.  Despite having lung problems, she came to Singapore to work in a nightlife establishment so that she could support her family.  Tay told Shin Min that arrangements have been made to repatriate Dang's body back to Vietnam. «I decided to help because her daughter is still very young. It's a pity, so I decided it would be better that she gets to see her mum for the last time.  »I told Dang's family not to worry about the cost, I'll help to send her body back to her village pro bono." 

SINGAPORE - Singapore's next prime minister Lawrence Wong has the «fullest support» of the labour movement, said NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng, who also paid tribute to outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the annual May Day Rally. Describing Deputy Prime Minister Wong as «a consistent and strong advocate for workers», Mr Ng on May 1 said the labour movement looks forward to continuing its strong partnership with Mr Wong to benefit Singapore's workers and for the prosperity of the nation. In his half-hour opening address, Mr Ng said DPM Wong had touched the hearts of many union leaders when the latter said NTUC is the most important partner of the Government at the closing event at the #EveryWorkerMatters Conversations in 2023. «This sent a very strong message that our uniquely Singapore tripartite partnership will continue for many years to come under your leadership and we look forward to it,» said Mr Ng. The labour chief said DPM Wong has always had a heart for the lower-income and vulnerable workers.

Jamaica has achieved a record Net International Reserves of US$5.137 billion. At the same time, the country's Gross Reserves, as at March 31, 2024, stood at a historic high of US$5.231 billion. Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke told The Gleaner...

Preliminary gross earnings from tourism are estimated at a record US$4.38 billion for fiscal year 2023/24 as the sector continues its exponential growth. Stopover arrivals are projected at 2.96 million, reflecting a 9.4 per cent increase over the...

The pilot was the only occupant onboard the aircraft, Fox News television reported

The airstrikes followed an ambush of a military vehicle between the Israeli settlements of Yiftah and Ramot Naftali, Al Mayadeen television reported