Travellers in the UK planning a holiday in the sun next year will be able to fly from Bristol to the Seychelles, through Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport. A new charter service will offer the first direct flights from the airport in southern England to the Middle East, allowing passengers to easily travel onwards to the Indian Ocean holiday hot spot. Air Seychelles will operate the Bristol to Dubai flights, with an onwards service to the Seychelles in April and May next year. “With British travellers desperate to get away and experience something a little different, this flying programme offers just that, and we have purposely timed it to coincide with Easter and the May bank holiday next year,” said Caroline Wood, travel services director at Air Charter Service. Holidaymakers will travel on a fleet of A320neo jets. Tickets will be available for three cabin classes, including economy space fares that have a blocked-off middle seat – ideal for privacy or social distancing. Passengers travelling from Bristol can opt to stop in the UAE, entering through Dubai World Central and spending some time in the emirate before travelling onwards to the Seychelles. Those keen to get directly to the islands can continue their journey straight to Mahe, the Seychelles' largest island. The Seychelles reopened to tourists in March and accepts vaccinated and non-vaccinated visitors who have a negative PCR test. Passengers who have been fully inoculated against Covid-19 are not required to go into quarantine when they travel to or from the UAE and the Seychelles because the countries have a travel corridor. Known for its white, sandy beaches, giant Aldabra tortoises, coco de mer plants and exceptional marine life, the Seychelles has long been a popular holiday destination. The air charter service from Bristol to the Seychelles is set to be the first of many, according to Air Charter Service. The global pandemic has changed how many people travel, with air charters growing in popularity over the past year after several large commercial airlines grounded flights because of Covid-19 restrictions. "We operated many flights with Air Charter Service last year as they helped our aircraft to keep on flying throughout the pandemic," Ms Wood said. <br/>