"La Vieille Creole," a tragedy waiting to happen!

Air Seychelles, the elderly Boeing, sarcastically known as “La Vieille Creole,” locally is soon to be joined by another “grand mere” –widely anticipated to be named “the grandmamma" has been causing distress and frustration again in recent weeks. Frequent breakdowns, delays and abnormal shaking and shuddering in mid air is losing the country thousands of dollars. Because of its age, it is also known to consume more than normal quantities of fuel and at the frequency it is now breaking down it would probably cost the country millions in due course. The question we would like to ask Rajiv on behalf of the suffering passengers is: What is Air Seychelles going to do to compensate those who are losing out due to no fault of their own?

Again last week, over 200 frustrated passengers traveling to and from Mauritius were left stranded, first at Pointe Larue Airport and then at Sir Seewoosagur Airport in Mauritius. They were reminded every half hour or so that the flight was not yet ready and was eventually dished out with ticket for snacks and drinks.

The same thing happened to the Singapore leg of the flight which was this time held up for well over three hours each time. This was the second flight delay in Mauritius in two weeks by the same plane. Le Nouveau Seychelles Weekly has been reliably informed that various apparatus are not working on that aircraft servicing regional routes and it is a clear danger to public safety. The toilets and hand luggage holders are also in dire straits. But this time it was one of the engines that were responsible for the delays. Many passengers expressed anxiety and frustration.

The national air carrier is currently being run by Mauritian, Rajiv Bissessur, as CEO since Captain David Savy opted for the back seat as Chairman to hide from negative publicity earlier this year. The company has also added to their fleet by leasing another old girl, Boeing 767, which is 24 years old- that is 80 years in aviation term. This has now increased the international fleet to four. The much awaited “Dreamliner" is not expected for at least another five years. The congratulations for Air Seychelles aired some months ago regularly on SBC-TV were clearly premature. In the event that this situation does not improve in the coming weeks or months and if the new addition to the fleet also proves to be troublesome, Rajiv will be in a lot of trouble with the public. Whatever happens, David Savy, can take credit for ruining the enviable reputation of Air Seychelles which was the pride of the nation. Some of Savy’s decision has also been clearly questionable. He recently removed Air Seychelles from the lucrative Singapore route to put it on the loss making Thailand route. He was forced to swallow his pride and reinstate the plane back on the Singapore route a few weeks ago. We guess it pays to allow the boss to hide behind you, but in the long run it can turn out to be too costly. “Qui vivera vera”.