Seychelles-UK Air Services Agreement Advances Through UK Parliamentary Process
An updated bilateral air services agreement (BASA) between Seychelles and the United Kingdom is currently before both Houses of the UK Parliament, following its tabling on 1 September 2026. The Seychelles Cabinet approved ratification of the agreement in August, alongside BASAs with 32 other partner countries. Originally signed on 11 November 2025 during an International Civil Aviation Negotiation event in Punta Cana, the updated agreement modernises an arrangement that had not been revised since 2011 and required updating following the UK's departure from the European Union in 2020.
The agreement establishes the regulatory framework under which designated airlines from both countries may operate commercial services between Seychelles and the UK, covering traffic rights, airline designation, codeshare arrangements and environmental provisions. No airline has announced plans for a new direct service, and Air Seychelles' current fleet does not support nonstop operations to the UK. However, Seychelles is pursuing the acquisition of two Airbus A321XLR aircraft as part of a longer-haul network strategy, with re-establishing direct European links under consideration. Principal Secretary for Civil Aviation David Bianchi noted that for a tourism-dependent island nation, air connectivity agreements are fundamentally economic instruments - facilitating travel, supporting tourism and creating reciprocal opportunities for Seychelles-designated carriers. Seychelles currently holds BASAs with more than 90 countries, providing a broad aviation framework that extends well beyond its current scheduled route network.
Source: Seychelles News Agency
