All airlines Africa
Air Seychelles
Powered chairs need the airline’s prior approval · 72 h notice.
- Advance notice
- 72hours before departure
- Powered wheelchair
- Conditional
- Lithium, battery installed
- Not published
- Cost to carry
- Not published
Who to contact
Transcribed from the airline’s own pages, exactly as it labels them.
- PhoneSeychelles — Air Seychelles Call Centre (reservations and the number the site gives for all guest queries)Mon-Fri 0800-1800, Sat 0800-1200
- PhoneSeychelles — outside working hours mobileFri 1800-2200, Sat 1200-1800, Sun 0800-1800, public holidays 0800-1800
- PhoneSeychelles — outside working hours mobile (second line)Fri 1800-2200, Sat 1200-1800, Sun 0800-1800, public holidays 0800-1800
- PhoneSeychelles — Cargo department (for any single item over 32 kg, which Air Seychelles will not accept as checked baggage)
- EmailSpecial assistance / wheelchair and mobility-aid requests (also the address for the operator approval of a battery-powered wheelchair)
- EmailMedical clearance (MEDIF), on-board assistance questions, oxygen and stretcher requests
- EmailCall Centre / general reservations
- EmailBaggage claim department (damaged or delayed baggage)
- EmailCompliments and complaints
- EmailCargo department (items over 32 kg)
- EmailLocal baggage services office — damaged baggage enquiries
Air Seychelles publishes no dedicated disability telephone line, no TTY/relay service and no per-country accessibility numbers — everything is routed to support@airseychelles.com (assistance) or medif@airseychelles.com (medical clearance and on-board assistance). The Contact Us page also lists GSA offices across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, but with third-party (non-airline) e-mail addresses, so they are not transcribed here.
Read it from the source
Powered wheelchairs & batteries
The part that goes wrong. Battery chemistry and watt-hours decide whether your chair flies, and the rules differ depending on whether the battery can be removed.
Accepted only with the airline's approval: "When traveling with a battery-powered wheelchair, it is important to adhere to international dangerous goods regulations and obtain approval from the operator... submit a request at the time of booking or no later than 72 hours prior to your flight departure via email at support@airseychelles.com. Kindly note that the airline may not be able to carry your mobility aid or wheelchair if it does not meet the conditions laid out in the regulations."
Motorized Wheelchair — Reference Guide for Passengers 2024 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
Accepted. "Lithium battery must be a type which meets the requirements of each test in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, Subsection 38.3. Passenger may verify with the manufacturer and or the seller." Lithium iron phosphate is explicitly identified as a lithium-ion battery.
Motorized Wheelchair — Reference Guide for Passengers 2024 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
No watt-hour cap published for a lithium battery that stays installed in the chair — Air Seychelles' 300 Wh figure applies only to a battery REMOVED from the wheelchair. The guide's default is that the battery remains installed unless the chair's design cannot protect it.
Motorized Wheelchair — Reference Guide for Passengers 2024 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
"Each battery removed from the wheelchair must not exceed 300 Wh." "All removed batteries must be carried in the passenger cabin." Removal is required only where "the design of the wheelchair is not able to provide adequate protection against damage", following the manufacturer's instructions.
Motorized Wheelchair — Reference Guide for Passengers 2024 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
Spare lithium batteries: "A maximum of 1 spare – Not exceeding 300 Wh, or a maximum of 2 spares – Not exceeding 160 Wh each." 300 Wh is the highest permitted rating for a single spare.
Motorized Wheelchair — Reference Guide for Passengers 2024 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
Maximum 2. Lithium: "A maximum of 1 spare – Not exceeding 300 Wh, or a maximum of 2 spares – Not exceeding 160 Wh each." Non-spillable: one spare non-spillable battery, or two spare nickel-metal hydride or dry batteries. Spillable batteries: "No Spare Battery Permitted."
Motorized Wheelchair — Reference Guide for Passengers 2024 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
No. For all three battery types "the battery must remain installed with the wheelchair unless the design of the wheelchair is not able to provide adequate protection against damage" (and, for spillable batteries, unless the chair cannot be kept upright). Where removal is necessary it must follow the manufacturer's instructions and the battery travels in the cabin.
Motorized Wheelchair — Reference Guide for Passengers 2024 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
Accepted. Covers regulated lead acid, sealed lead acid, gel, nickel-metal hydride, alkali-manganese, zinc-carbon and nickel-cadmium batteries. The battery must remain installed unless the wheelchair's design cannot protect it; terminals must be protected from short circuit by being enclosed within a battery container, and the battery must be identified correctly to the airline.
Motorized Wheelchair — Reference Guide for Passengers 2024 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
Accepted. "The spillable battery must remain installed with the wheelchair unless: the design of the wheelchair is not able to provide adequate protection against damage; [or] the wheelchair with spillable battery cannot be maintained in an upright position throughout the transportation." Terminals must be enclosed in a battery container and spill-resistant vent caps fitted where feasible. A removed spillable battery must be leak-tight packed, upright, with absorbent material, marked "Battery, Wet, With Wheelchair" and labelled Corrosive + Package Orientation.
Motorized Wheelchair — Reference Guide for Passengers 2024 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
"All battery terminals are protected from short circuits (by being enclosed within a battery container)." Spillable batteries must also be "fitted with spillable resistant vent caps (if feasible)". Removed and spare batteries "must be protected from damage (e.g.: by placing each battery in a protective pouch)".
Motorized Wheelchair — Reference Guide for Passengers 2024 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
No form or MSDS is demanded, but the battery must be identified: "Passenger should be able to identify the battery from the product specification or user-guide", "The battery is identified correctly to the airline", "Verify the label on the battery", and for lithium the passenger "may verify with the manufacturer and or the seller" that it meets UN 38.3. A MEDIF is separately required for medical clearance, but that is a fitness-to-fly form, not a battery document.
Motorized Wheelchair — Reference Guide for Passengers 2024 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29 Special Assistance (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
No maximum powered-wheelchair dimensions published. For a spillable-battery chair Air Seychelles only asks: "Passenger may verify this prior to flight by providing the dimension of the wheelchair to the airline" (to confirm the chair can be kept upright).
Motorized Wheelchair — Reference Guide for Passengers 2024 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
No weight limit published for powered wheelchairs.
Motorized Wheelchair — Reference Guide for Passengers 2024 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
Not published — Air Seychelles says nothing about where a powered chair is returned.
Special Assistance (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
Operator approval is mandatory for any battery-powered wheelchair: request it at booking or at least 72 hours before departure via support@airseychelles.com. Air Seychelles warns it "may not be able to carry your mobility aid or wheelchair if it does not meet the conditions laid out in the regulations".
Manual wheelchairs
Not published for manual chairs specifically. Air Seychelles' only wheelchair document is the "Motorized Wheelchair Reference Guide"; the Special Assistance page describes airport wheelchair assistance (WCHR/WCHS/WCHC) but never states the conditions for carrying a passenger's own manual chair.
Special Assistance (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29 Motorized Wheelchair — Reference Guide for Passengers 2024 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
Not published — no in-cabin stowage of a folding manual wheelchair is described anywhere on the site.
Special Assistance (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
No in-cabin wheelchair stowage space or closet size is described.
No maximum wheelchair dimensions published.
No weight limit published for wheelchairs. The 32 kg figure on the baggage page ("The airlines will not accept any single item of checked in baggage over 32 KG in weight") is the ordinary checked-baggage rule and Air Seychelles does not say it applies to mobility aids — over-32 kg items are referred to the cargo department.
Baggage information (32 kg single-item rule, power banks) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
Not published — Air Seychelles says nothing about returning a wheelchair at the aircraft door or jet bridge.
Special Assistance (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
Booking & cost
"Send us a special request assistance at the time of booking or no later than 72 hours prior to departure via email at support@airseychelles.com". The Motorized Wheelchair guide repeats the same deadline for obtaining operator approval for a battery-powered chair. MEDIF forms and oxygen requests are also due 72 hours before departure. Arrive at the airport 3 hours before the flight.
Special Assistance (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29 Motorized Wheelchair — Reference Guide for Passengers 2024 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
"Send us a special request assistance at the time of booking or no later than 72 hours prior to departure via email at support@airseychelles.com." To confirm a wheelchair request already made at booking, e-mail support@airseychelles.com 72 hours before departure. Codes offered: WCHR, WCHS, WCHC.
Special Assistance (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
Not published. Air Seychelles nowhere states whether a wheelchair or mobility aid is carried free of charge or counts against the baggage allowance; the baggage page lists excess-baggage rates per kg but says nothing about mobility aids.
Special Assistance (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29 Baggage information (32 kg single-item rule, power banks) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
Not published — Air Seychelles does not say how many mobility devices a passenger may bring.
Special Assistance (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
Not published for mobility aids. Air Seychelles has no wheelchair-specific liability rule or waiver. General baggage damage: report before leaving the airport to get a Damage Property Report, or write within 7 days of arrival; claims go to baggageclaims@airseychelles.com / mhlbag@airseychelles.com, assessed under the contract of carriage and "related international rules".
Mishandled baggage (damage/delay claims) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29 Customer Service Plan (baggage claims and feedback addresses) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
On board
"The airline's fleet of A320neos' does not cater for personal onboard wheelchairs. For further information related to onboard assistance email medif@airseychelles.com." The A320neo is Air Seychelles' entire jet fleet (2 aircraft; the other 5 are 19-seat DHC-6 Twin Otters), and no airline-provided aisle chair is described anywhere on the site.
Special Assistance (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29 Our Fleet (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
Not published — Air Seychelles says nothing about wheelchair-accessible lavatories.
Special Assistance (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
"Passengers experiencing mental, physical or total immobility must be accompanied at all times." WCHC is defined as a "completely immobile passenger... unable to take care of his/her own needs on board". "A personal care attendant is required to travel with passengers with disabilities who are not self-reliant" and must handle medical procedures, feeding and lavatory assistance; check-in staff confirm the passenger can feed themselves, manage the lavatory and administer their own medicine.
Special Assistance (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
No movable-armrest or bulkhead seating policy published. Air Seychelles states only that "reduced mobility passengers need to be able to use a regular aircraft seat with seatback in an upright position during taxi, take-off and landing" and that "for safety reasons, emergency exit rows are not available to passengers with reduced mobility".
Special Assistance (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
Fleet detail. Fleet: 2 Airbus A320-200neo and 5 DHC-6 Twin Otter-400 (19 seats). Air Seychelles states that its A320neo fleet "does not cater for personal onboard wheelchairs"; nothing at all is published about the 19-seat Twin Otters used on the Mahe-Praslin and domestic charter network. No hold-door or hold-compartment dimensions are published.
Worth knowing
Air Seychelles' battery rules are unusually good for a carrier this size: a 3-page "Motorized Wheelchair Reference Guide for Passengers 2024" PDF linked from the Special Assistance page, covering spillable, non-spillable/NiMH/dry and lithium-ion chairs with explicit 300 Wh / 160 Wh spare limits. Three cautions for a power-chair user. (1) Operator approval is mandatory and Air Seychelles says outright it may refuse a chair that does not meet the regulations — give the full 72 hours. (2) Nothing is published about manual chairs, fees, free carriage, gate delivery, hold dimensions or damage liability; the 32 kg single-item checked-baggage cap is a general baggage rule and has deliberately NOT been imported as a wheelchair weight limit, and the 100 Wh / one-power-bank rule on the baggage page is explicitly for power banks, not mobility aids. (3) The A320neo fleet "does not cater for personal onboard wheelchairs", the airline describes no aisle chair of its own, and anyone with total immobility must travel with a companion plus a MEDIF. The Special Assistance page also contains a broken cross-reference: it says "Passengers requesting the following assistance must hold a medical certificate in English... and must travel with a companion" but the list it refers to is not printed on the page.
Sources
Every figure above traces to one of these.
- s1 Special Assistance (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
- s2 Motorized Wheelchair — Reference Guide for Passengers 2024 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
- s3 Contact Us (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
- s4 Baggage information (32 kg single-item rule, power banks) (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
- s5 Prohibited items (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
- s6 Customer Service Plan (baggage claims and feedback addresses) (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
- s7 Our Fleet (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
- s8 Mishandled baggage (damage/delay claims) (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
Record quality
Record status researched · confidence high · 8 official sources · 11 contacts · 56% of the fields this reference tracks are answered. Newest source read 29 July 2026, the day before this page was built. What these mean.