Air Seychelles (HM) launches Victoria (SEZ) - Istanbul (IST) route

Air Seychelles has officially inaugurated its new service between Victoria and Istanbul, establishing a new air link between the Indian Ocean and one of the largest aviation gateways across the Europe-Asia region. The move marks a strategically significant step for the carrier as it expands its international footprint and adds more convenient connectivity options for both leisure and business traffic.

The new route not only brings Seychelles closer to the Turkish market, but also opens broader access to Europe, the Middle East and nearby regions through Istanbul’s leading hub position. On one side is the capital of an island nation renowned for upscale beach resorts; on the other is a major metropolis spanning two continents, with strong appeal in culture, commerce and aviation. As international travel demand continues to recover and become increasingly experience-driven, the route strengthens Air Seychelles’ network, diversifies its source markets and reinforces the airline’s role in bringing global visitors to Seychelles.

Air Seychelles operates the route with two weekly round trips using the Airbus A320neo. On the return sector, the service makes a technical stop in Hurghada before continuing to Victoria.

Victoria offers the rare tranquility of a small island capital, where a tropical pace of life blends with the blue of the sea and the distinctive backdrop of granite mountains. From here, travelers can easily reach Seychelles’ celebrated beaches, nature reserves and marine ecosystems rich in biodiversity. A particular highlight is the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve on Praslin Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its primeval palm forest and the iconic coco de mer, evoking the feeling of stepping into a prehistoric world.

Istanbul captivates with its exceptional meeting of East and West, where domes, minarets and historic bazaars create an unmistakable skyline. The city is at once vibrant and modern, yet deeply layered with the history of empires that once shaped the region. Istanbul’s Historic Areas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stand out for landmark monuments reflecting outstanding universal value in architecture, religion and urban development. From Istanbul, passengers are not simply arriving in a city, but encountering one of the world’s most vivid living layers of civilization.