Seychelles Airlines (Mahé) is the name of a much-rumoured new Seychellois carrier intent on reopening direct flights between the Indian Ocean archipelago and Europe. The routes were abandoned when national carrier Air Seychelles (HM, Mahé) took Etihad Airways (EY, Abu Dhabi International) onboard and moved to funnel its European traffic via Abu Dhabi International. Founded by local businessmen, the airline will launch in June 2014 using two B767-300s and plans to serve France, Germany, Italy initially with the UK, Russia, India and Singapore to follow later. The start-up has yet to secure the requisite certificates to operate.