Air Seychelles (HM, Mahé) took delivery of its first A320-200neo at Hamburg Finkenwerder on July 31, 2019, lessor CDB Leasing said in a press release.
S7-VEV (msn 8972) is the first A320neo delivered to an African carrier. The aircraft is powered by CFM International LEAP-1A26 engines and features 168 passenger seats, including 12 in business class and 156 in economy.
Positioning to the Seychelles is expected to take place in the coming days.
According to the ch-aviation schedules module, Air Seychelles plans to launch A320neo operations on August 6, deploying the aircraft on a one-off service from Mahé to Mauritius. It subsequently plans to use the type on flights to Mumbai Int'l (5x weekly from August 6, then 6x weekly from August 18), Antananarivo (one flight on August 7), Johannesburg O.R. Tambo (daily from August 8), and Tel Aviv Ben Gurion (weekly from November 27).
Air Seychelles currently operates two A320-200s and five DHC-6-400s. The carrier expects its second A320neo, on lease from Air Lease Corporation, to deliver during the first quarter of 2020.