SEZ is the international gateway; the resort decides what comes next
Seychelles International Airport (SEZ / FSIA) sits on the eastern side of Mahé near Pointe Larue. Its runway is approximately 2,987 metres and it is the natural international arrival point for a private jet from the Netherlands. Official SCAA information publishes H24 air traffic services, fuel, handling and security. For a long-range aircraft, the airport infrastructure is therefore not the most complicated part of the trip; the key question is what must happen after landing.
For a stay on Mahé, a pre-arranged car may be enough; Four Seasons at Petite Anse publishes about 35 minutes from SEZ. Praslin, La Digue, Desroches and other islands require an onward transfer, so we ask for the exact resort before finalising a charter proposal.
Operational preparation also starts early. Landing permission, handler, parking, fuel, crew formalities and current NOTAMs are confirmed in advance by the operating AOC holder. The international flight and onward connection have to work as one operation.
Praslin, La Digue and private islands each create a different second sector
Praslin offers several routes. Tourism Seychelles quotes about 15 minutes for the domestic Mahé–Praslin flight and roughly one hour for the fast ferry. Raffles also publishes around 15 minutes by private helicopter, or a 15-minute flight to Praslin Airport plus about 30 minutes by road. The same resort can therefore involve very different transfer logistics.
La Digue is normally reached via Praslin and boat, or by a pre-arranged helicopter when available. More remote islands are even more specialised: Four Seasons Desroches uses its own island runway and publishes about 35 minutes flying time from Mahé’s domestic terminal. Availability and weather remain decisive.
This is also why baggage has to be discussed in advance. An Ultra Long Range Jet may comfortably carry large suitcases, diving equipment or family luggage, while the smaller second aircraft can have its own allowance. Four Seasons Desroches, for example, publishes a total allowance of 30 kg per paying passenger on its scheduled island flight. Choosing the international jet without considering the last sector can still leave baggage travelling separately.
The long flight needs range, but the complete mission matters more
At roughly 4,279 nautical miles from Amsterdam to Mahé, this is clearly a long-range mission. A suitable Heavy Jet can be capable of operating non-stop depending on wind, payload and reserves; an Ultra Long Range Jet provides more margin for baggage, passengers, headwinds and cabin comfort. We therefore assess the actual mission with forecast winds, alternates, take-off weight and crew duty rather than relying only on an aircraft's brochure range.
A trip for two is different from eight passengers travelling with extensive luggage and diving equipment. The return sector is calculated separately because winds change fuel and payload margin by direction. If non-stop operation leaves too little reserve, we compare another aircraft or a technical stop.
For a longer stay, the aircraft need not remain on Mahé. Depending on parking, crew and fleet availability, drop-and-go or later repositioning can be more economical and is included in the price comparison.
Travel Authorisation, connection margin and the return structure belong in one plan
Visitors use the official Seychelles Electronic Border System for the mandatory Travel Authorisation. The government allows applications within 30 days of scheduled arrival. That passenger requirement is separate from the aircraft's operational permissions, but both need to be in place before departure. We therefore collect the data required by the operator, handler and local authorities early in the process.
For an inter-island connection we build in margin for immigration, baggage and the onward departure. Private-island flights can have fixed times, weather limits or restricted capacity. Travellers staying on Mahé can instead continue directly by chauffeur.
The charter price ultimately combines aircraft and flying hours, empty positioning, handling, landing and parking charges, crew, possible overnight costs and the chosen return structure. An island transfer is added separately where required. Share your departure point, dates, passenger count, baggage and exact resort; we can then compare suitable AOC-operated Heavy and Ultra Long Range Jets while placing the post-SEZ connection alongside the flight options from the start.