With numerous international gateways serving the Seychelles, travelers have several options when planning their journey to Mahé (SEZ). While Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha remain common connection points, alternative routes through Europe and Africa provide additional flexibility for travelers who prefer a different itinerary.
Below, we've outlined several of the most convenient options for reaching the Seychelles from the United States without connecting through the Gulf region.
European Gateways
Several major European hubs offer nonstop service from the United States along with direct onward flights to Mahé. For many travelers, these routes provide some of the simplest options for reaching the Seychelles.
Frankfurt, Germany (FRA)
Best for Star Alliance loyalty travelers.
- US Hub Flights (Daily): Atlanta (ATL), Chicago (ORD), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), New York/Newark (JFK/EWR), San Francisco (SFO), Washington D.C. (IAD).
- Operating Airlines to FRA: Lufthansa, United, Delta.
- Onward Connection to SEZ: Nonstop via Discover Airlines / Lufthansa.
Paris Charles de Gaulle, France (CDG)
Best for SkyTeam loyalty travelers or those looking to route through Paris.
- US Hub Flights (Daily): New York (JFK/EWR), Atlanta (ATL), Chicago (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), Washington D.C. (IAD), Boston (BOS), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), San Francisco (SFO).
- Operating Airlines to CDG: Air France, Delta, United, American, JetBlue.
- Onward Connection to SEZ: Air Seychelles (Nonstop, operating 3x per week).
Zurich, Switzerland (ZRH)
Best for travelers looking for a straightforward European connection and single-alliance baggage handling.
- US Hub Flights (Daily): New York (JFK/EWR), Chicago (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), Washington D.C. (IAD), Boston (BOS), Miami (MIA), San Francisco (SFO), Philadelphia (PHL).
- Operating Airlines to ZRH: SWISS, United, Delta, American.
- Onward Connection to SEZ: Edelweiss Air (Nonstop).
African Gateways
Travelers can also reach the Seychelles through several of Africa's major aviation hubs. These routes provide additional flexibility and can be particularly useful for travelers combining a Seychelles trip with time elsewhere in Africa.
Johannesburg, South Africa (JNB)
- Atlanta (ATL): Daily direct to JNB via Delta Air Lines.
- New York/Newark (EWR): Daily direct to JNB via United Airlines.
- Onward Connection to SEZ: Air Seychelles (Direct flights departing JNB on Sundays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays).
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (ADD)
Addis Ababa is one of Africa's largest aviation hubs, with Ethiopian Airlines providing convenient connections from the United States through to Mahé.
- Washington D.C. (IAD): Daily via Ethiopian Airlines.
- Chicago (ORD): Daily via Ethiopian Airlines.
- Atlanta (ATL): Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays via Ethiopian Airlines.
- Onward Connection to SEZ: Ethiopian Airlines (Daily direct from ADD to SEZ).
Nairobi, Kenya (NBO)
- New York (JFK): Direct flights to NBO operating Tuesdays through Sundays via Kenya Airways.
- Onward Connection to SEZ: Kenya Airways (Direct flights departing NBO on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays).
Istanbul, Turkey (IST)
Istanbul offers another option for reaching the Seychelles, with Turkish Airlines providing a particularly broad network of nonstop flights from major U.S. cities. Travelers can book with the same airline from the United States through to Mahé, simplifying the overall itinerary and baggage handling.
- US Hub Flights (Daily): Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Denver (DEN), Detroit (DTW), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK/EWR), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), Washington D.C. (IAD).
- Operating Airline: Turkish Airlines.
- Onward Connection to SEZ: Turkish Airlines (Direct flights departing IST on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays).
Booking Advice for Travelers
With several different gateways available, travelers have considerable flexibility when building an itinerary to the Seychelles. A few details are especially important when comparing routes:
- Check Connection Days: Onward flights from Europe and Africa to the Seychelles do not all operate daily. Make sure your U.S. departure aligns with the operating day of your connecting flight to Mahé.
- Book on a Single Ticket When Possible: Keeping the itinerary under a single booking can simplify connections and provide additional protection in the event of a flight delay.
- Baggage Interlining: Booking with the same airline or partner airlines can allow checked luggage to transfer automatically to your final destination rather than requiring collection and rechecking during the connection.
