Seychelles – Madagascar: New air service

Why Air Seychelles chose September 11, a dark day in aviation history considering the events of 13 years ago, to announce the launch of flights to the Madagascar, capital of Antananarivo, might remain a mystery, but the essence is that after the proposed flights to Dar es Salaam, Madagascar, one of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands Organization founder members, will be next.

The inaugural flight is due on December 3, still subject to regulatory approvals apparently, and the route will be served initially twice a week with a two class Airbus A320 which offers 16 Business Class and 120 Economy Class seats.

The new route is bound to increase inter-island travel between the various Vanilla Islands and comes in the wake of Air Austral, Reunion’s home airline launching twice weekly flights between the island’s capital of St. Denis and Mahe at the end of June. From Reunion, all neighboring islands will be served – Mauritius, Madagascar with in fact three destinations on the island, Mayotte, the Comoros, and, of course, the Seychelles, too.

Air Seychelles in turn flies to Mauritius and will from December begin to fly to Madagascar, making the launch of an integrated air pass to visit other islands a distinct possibility.

Manoj Papa, Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive Officer, said when making the announcement: “We are thrilled to add Antananarivo to our global network, further cementing our position as the airline of choice in the Indian Ocean region. Madagascar is enjoying strong economic growth from renewed foreign investment and surging eco-tourism. Our flights will cater to the growing demand for business and leisure travel to what is the world’s fourth largest island. The route will boost trade and tourism in both directions, and in particular, be welcomed by the large number of Malagasy nationals living in the Seychelles, who now have an easier way of visiting friends and family at home. Via our Mahé hub, we will offer guests coming from Madagascar great onward connections to many of the islands in the Seychelles, in addition to destinations served by our fleet in the Middle East, Europe and Asia, as well as with our codeshare partners.”

Joël Morgan, Seychelles’ Minister for Home Affairs and Transport and Air Seychelles Board Chairman, added his own voice about the new flights when he reportedly said: “The Indian Ocean is at the heart of our route network development, and we are delighted Antananarivo is now a part of the Air Seychelles network. It marks an important milestone in our regional expansion strategy. Earlier this year, the Seychelles and Madagascar signed a new Air Services Agreement, where enhanced provisions have directly facilitated the announcement of flights.

“The direct links to Antananarivo will create new opportunities for government, trade, tourism and cultural exchanges within the Indian Ocean, and through our global network, connect the region to the world. We also offer significant new schedule options for travelers, providing more choice and flexibility within the region, and making Madagascar’s splendid treasury of culture, fauna, and flora more accessible than ever to holidaymakers, whether as a standalone destination or in combination with visits to other islands of the region, such as the Comoros, Mayotte, Mauritius, or Réunion.”