Qatar Airways received the green light this week its supervisory authorities to launch daily flights to the island of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. This will be the first - and only - flight from Africa's largest island to the Middle East. And beyond to Asia and Europe thanks to the Qatari airline's network of connections in Doha.
The agreement between the Madagascan and Qatari civil aviation authorities provides for the operation of a daily flight between the two countries. No official Qatar Airways timetable has yet been published, but it is likely that these flights will start very soon. This is because the airline will have a monopoly between Madagascar, the Middle East and the rest of the world. Qatar Airways currently serves some 175 international destinations in nearly 80 countries..
The arrival of the Qatari airline will benefit the business tourism and leisure from Madagascar. The country's ambition is to host one million international visitors a year within 5 years. The Madagascan government has also indicated that it is negotiating traffic rights with other carriers. Including several from the Middle East.
Doha, a powerful hub for the entire Indian Ocean
However, the imminent arrival of Qatar Airways will reshuffle the cards when it comes to air connectivity on the island, and even in the region.. For the moment, apart from Air Mauritius and Air AustralThe international air network in this part of the Indian Ocean remains limited.
The biggest competition to Qatar Airways isAir France which operates six weekly non-stop flights from Paris CDG-Antananarivo by Airbus A350-900. Alternatively, you can reach Madagascar via Saint-Denis de la Réunion (5 flights/week) with Air AustralAddis Ababa with Ethiopian Airlines (one daily flight), Nairobi with Kenya Airways (two daily flights) and Port Louis with Air Mauritius (5 flights a week). There are also two weekly flights with a stopover from Corsair to Orly and Turkish Airlines to Istanbul.
The Qatar Airways flight could also attract passengers from La RéunionThis is due to the airline's extensive network in Doha. Particularly to Asia. For the moment, La Réunion has just one route to the Asian continent, namely Bangkokoperated by Air Austral. Last year, the Réunion-based carrier had to suspend its service on Madras. This decision was taken following the withdrawal of traffic rights by the Indian authorities.
Compensating for the absence of Madagascar Airlines on the international market
The arrival of Qatar Airways will also make it possible to compensate for the closure of all international routes operated by Madagascar's national airline. Air Madagascar, which will become a member of the Air Madagascar Group at the end of 2023 Madagascar Airlineshas suspended all its international flights to concentrate on its domestic routes as part of its turnaround strategy.
A three-phase plan for 100 million provides for the rental of new equipment. Once domestic lines have been restored, Madagascar Airlines to resume its regional routes (2025) before returning to intercontinental activity. This should take at least two to three years...
