Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) is the main aviation hub for the famous archipelago in the Indian Ocean.
The airport is located about 11 km southeast of the capital and largest city of the country, Victoria, situated on Mahé Island, also the largest island. The Seychelles is a major leisure destination, and SEZ's role is to connect the country with large airports and bring in holidaymakers from around the world.
In 2024, Seychelles Airport handled a little over 420,000 passengers. Despite its small size, SEZ is one of the most important airports in the Indian Ocean.
Major Airlines - Air Seychelles
Air Seychelles, the flag carrier, is the largest operator of flights at the airport. It offers year-round flights to 5 international destinations and 1 domestic service to Praslin Island.
Two more companies provide air service to the many islands that form the Seychelles: Zil Air, using helicopters and chartered flights, and IDC (Island Development Company), which specializes in transport to outlying islands.
Foreign carriers with year-round direct flights to their hubs include Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, IndiGo, Kenya Airways, and Qatar Airlines.
Several airlines operate seasonal flights to the Seychelles. Of these, the most prominent ones are Turkish Airlines, Discover Airlines, and Condor.
See a full list of airlines and destinations at SEZ.
Terminals of Seychelles Airport
The airport features two adjacent terminals within 2 minutes of walking:
International Terminal: handles all international arrivals and departures.
Domestic Terminal: serves 170+ weekly flights to Praslin Island, allowing for easy connections with international arrivals. Charter services organized by hotels and resorts on Bird Island, Denis Island, D'Arros Island, and Fregate Island also use this terminal.
Connecting Flights and Transit
All connections at SEZ are international-to-domestic or vice versa, all operated by Air Seychelles.
The airline schedules its domestic departures to be 30 minutes to 1 hour after an international arrival and handles the transit procedures.
The 2 terminals are very close to each other, so no transport between them is required.
Check out the best things to do in the Seychelles!
WiFi at SEZ
Free Wi-Fi is available throughout both terminals. The SSID of the network is “WeFree”. It is, however, limited to 1 hour of use.
For most transits, this should be enough, but if it expires and you need more time, you can purchase more online.
Alternatively, use the free WiFi provided by the bars, restaurants, or lounges at the airport.
Dining options at Seychelles Airport
The number of places to buy food and drinks is modest, given the airport’s small size. Nonetheless, options are practical and cover most budgets.
All eateries are located in the International Terminal, either before or after the Security check:
Landside: Seybar Café & Bar (Creole fare), Coffee Club, and Burger King.
Airside Departure Lounge: Café Paradiso, Takamaka Bay Bar, and vending machines for quick snacks.
Lounges at Seychelles Airport
Seychelles Airport houses 3 lounges for premium travelers in three different parts of the airport:
Vallee De Mai Lounge in the International Terminal offers light meals, drinks, and comfortable seating.
VIP Lounge in the VIP area of the airport is reserved for eligible fliers.
Payanke Lounge is located in the public area of the Domestic Terminal. The day pass costs 400 SCR and you get snacks, unlimited Wi-Fi, and comfy seating.
Transport to and from the airport
Getting to and from the airport is simple.
The island of Mahe itself is not too big and has a network of public buses that serve the airport. They run every 20-30 minutes between 05:30 and 19:30. The single ticket fare is 4 SCR, but you must use an SPTC travel card. Buy it online during the travel authorisation application process or directly at the airport.
The main alternative to the public buses is the taxis. Official taxis use meters - 50 SCR for the first km, then 30 SCR/km, plus surcharges. Follow the signs at the airport to the dedicated pick-up area. A trip to Victoria, the main city on the island, typically costs around 300 SCR for a 20-minute journey. For transfers to the ferry port or hotels, taxis are recommended.
Car rental companies that operate at Seychelles Airport include Hertz, Sixt, Thrifty, and various local companies. Prior booking is recommended.
Parking at SEZ
SEZ provides both short- and long-term parking adjacent to the terminals, with direct foot access.
The first 15 minutes are free. The hourly charge at the short-term car park is 20 SCR with no discount for daily stays.
The long-term car park is a little more economical for stays of more than 3 days. Up to 3 days, the charge is 1000 SCR, up to 6 days it is 2100 SCR, and thereafter the daily charge is 480 SCR.
Hotels near Seychelles Airport
There are no hotels inside the airport.
Most nearby resorts and hotels on Mahé or Eden Island offer shuttle or taxi access.
The hotels nearest to the airport are small, family-run accommodations like The Runway Lodge (2.5 km away) and the Touchdown Villa (3 km away).
Mahe Island, Seychelles
