Air Seychelles (HM, Mahé) has announced it will launch flights to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion on November 27, 2019, marking the carrier's return to the Middle East.

Flights from Mahé will operate weekly with the carrier's first A320-200neo, S7-VEV (msn 8972), which is due to deliver at the end of July. The aircraft will be equipped with 12 business class and 156 economy class seats.

The carrier has not flown to the Middle East since it terminated the Abu Dhabi International route in May 2019. Etihad Airways owns a 40% stake in Air Seychelles.

"We have taken a very cautious approach by partnering with tour operators in Tel Aviv to secure the majority of seats to be sold from Tel Aviv as one or two weeks packaged holidays in the Seychelles and Mauritius to ensure we guarantee the profitability of the year-round business," CFO Michael Berlouis said in a press release.

The airline said it will add El Al Israel Airlines (LY, Tel Aviv Ben Gurion) as an interline partner and also offer connecting flights via Mahé to Mauritius, Mumbai International, and Johannesburg O.R. Tambo.