Air Seychelles (HM, Mahé) has ordered an A320neo from Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) as part of its ongoing restructuring and turnaround plan.

The carrier said in a statement the CFM International LEAP 1A-powered aircraft will deliver during the second half of 2019 and will enable it to increase capacity on its Johannesburg O.R. Tambo and Mumbai International routes while at the same time reduce its operating costs through reduced fuel burn.

“To position Air Seychelles as the airline of choice within the Indian Ocean, we need to ensure that the business is aligned with the demands of the markets in which we operate today," airline Chief Executive Officer, Remco Althuis, said. “Hence as part of the strategic plan, this new order will not only enable the airline to gradually replace its existing jet fleet with modern new aircraft, but it will also enable Air Seychelles to further strengthen its business by operating in a more efficient manner.”

As part of its cost-cutting drive, Air Seychelles ended longhaul, widebody operations with its pair of A330-200s having since been phased-out. As it stands, its fleet entails two A320-200s and six DHC-6-400s used to run domestic island-hopper flights as well as services to Abu Dhabi International, Mauritius, Mumbai, and Johannesburg.

In tandem with the capacity cut, Air Seychelles has also reduced its head-count with 126 staff to be made redundant instead of the 174 announced earlier this year.

“We have just informed those that are being made redundant that they will receive their final letter with all their dues calculated. We have considered a five-month package including the allowances,” Althuis was quoted by the Seychelles News Agency.