The Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) hosted a high-level delegation from the Eastern and Southern African (ESAF) office of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The four-member delegation led by the Regional Director, Ms. Lucy Mbugua was on a working visit from 29th June to 3rd July 2026.
The visit comes as SCAA is preparing the Seychelles aviation sector for a major ICAO safety audit under the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) due to be held in August 2027. The Audit is an international check of Seychelles’ aviation system. It evaluates how Seychelles is implementing ICAO’s Standards and Recommended Practices (SAPRs), and how effective are its regulatory framework, systems and oversight capabilities in place to govern civil aviation.
During the weeklong visit the Regional Director and delegation engaged in productive discussions with the Board, management and senior officers of SCAA. Discussions focused on strengthening regulatory oversight, enhancing operational capacity and advancing the safe, secure, efficient and sustainable development of Civil Aviation in Seychelles, in accordance with internationally set standards and strategic goals.
It was reiterated that SCAA is the body in Seychelles who is responsible to ensure that Seychelles fulfills its commitments to the global civil aviation industry as per the provisions of the Chicago Convention to which Seychelles has been a signatory since 1977. Ultimately, strong oversight and clear regulations are the foundation of a safe, secure and thriving aviation sector, benefiting passengers, airlines and the country, through the aviation sector.
The delegation also met with the management the Seychelles Airports Authority, as the Airport operator, and Air Seychelles, as the national carrier. During these discussions the delegates were updated on different developments at the Seychelles Airports and the national carrier. In turn, the delegation took the opportunity to reiterate that the success of the upcoming audit will depend not only on SCAA, but on their level of compliance and commitment to remedy any findings as put forward by SCAA. They further emphasized the importance of aviation stakeholders working closely with SCAA and taking its inspections, audits and guidance seriously, as these help ensure that the entire aviation sector operates in line with international standards. This collective commitment is essential to safeguarding the connectivity of which Seychelles' tourism and economy depend heavily on.
In addition to technical meetings the delegation also met with the Minister responsible for Transport, Ports and Civil Aviation, Ms. Veronique Laporte; the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Trade, Mr. Patrick Payet; and the Special Advisor to the Minister of Tourism and Culture, Mrs. Bernadette Wilhemin. The objective was to highlight the need for an integrated approach at state level in planning and policy making, where aviation is recognized as a strategic pillar supporting national development objectives.
SCAA expressed its sincere appreciation to the ICAO ESAF office for the mission, the CEO of SCAA Mr. Garry Albert noted that, “I do recognize the important role that the ESAF office plays in supporting us in delivering on our commitment to raise our effective implementation of the ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices. We are deeply grateful for all the support rendered to our team at the SCAA who are here to ensure that the aviation sector remains safe, secure and sustainable. This safeguards connectivity to our islands which contributes to economic growth and prosperity for the people of Seychelles”.
About SCAA
The Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) is the national regulatory body established under the SCAA Act 2024 to oversee and manage all civil aviation activities in the Republic of Seychelles. Its core mandate includes ensuring the safety, security, and sustainability of civil aviation through effective regulation, oversight, and enforcement. SCAA is responsible for the certification and licensing of aviation personnel and service providers, the regulation of air navigation and airport services, and the development and implementation of aviation policies and regulations. It also plays a key role in negotiating and facilitating international air service agreements. Since its separation from airport operations in 2024, SCAA has operated as an independent authority focused solely on regulatory functions, in alignment with ICAO standards and best practices
Media Contact
| Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) PO Box 181 3rd Floor D'Offay Building Providence Mahe Seychelles +248 439 1750 |
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