The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Air Seychelles has announced the signing of a favorable lease agreement with ILFC for another 767-205EM similar to “La Belle Creole”, which is over 21 years old (about sixty four years in aviation life) and acquired the nickname “La Vielle Kreol” from cabin crew and local passengers due to its age, which it shows and having numerous flight delays and cancellations resulting from engineering failure.
On one “La Belle Creole” flight to Thailand last December, the plane circled the Bankok International Airport, due to landing wheels not being engaged timely. The Former President France Albert Rene, a passenger on that flight, was noticeably unhappy about the non-starter event. You would think the experience would have caused him to put his foot down and not accept old fleet airplanes that have extended their “used by date”. But this is not the case.
The second aircraft has now been dubbed “Gran Mere Kreol”, by a baggage handler. Roughly the same age as ‘La Vielle’, ‘Gran Mere’ is expected to arrive in a few months after a fresh coat of paint and a reconfiguration. It was leased from Max-jet which was operating the plane in an all-business class configuration. Would it not have been wise to keep this configuration instead of going through the additional expense of a re-configuration? There is a big demand for business class seats to sustain the growing five star market seeking premium seats. The all business class version would surely capture a lucrative market and bring more revenue to Air Seychelles.
Meanwhile, the delivery of the 787 Dream-liner is delayed a second time. It will be another four long years before we see the wings of the liner Dave and Mike have been dreaming of - taking us to 2012, beyond the next presidential…... So Jj will not have this toy to tangle with at the next elections...
Colonel Savy wants us to welcome “Gran Mere Kreol”, with open arms into the Air Seychelles family. If he flies on it to Somalia regularly for shopping, maybe the “Twazemm Aze” bird will find a place in our hearts.