Madagascar Airlines, the national carrier of Madagascar, has announced plans to resume flights between the island of Sainte-Marie and Réunion's Roland-Garros airport. The flights will operate from December 16 to March 2027, with two weekly services on Wednesday and Friday. The ATR72 aircraft, with a capacity of 70 seats, will be used for these flights, which will be connected to Sainte-Marie-Tananarive routes.
The decision to restart flights between Sainte-Marie and Réunion comes in response to demands from tourism operators on the island. Sainte-Marie, a tropical paradise located off the east coast of Madagascar, has been without a direct link to Réunion since the COVID-19 pandemic. A special flight on October 3 allowed tourism operators to promote the island, and they have been eagerly awaiting the resumption of regular services.
Madagascar Airlines, which is set to be rebranded as Air Madagascar, had ceased operating flights between Sainte-Marie and Réunion in 2020 due to the pandemic. An attempt to reopen the route in 2022-2023 was unsuccessful, and the airline decided to focus on domestic routes. Currently, Air Austral and Corsair are the only airlines operating flights between Réunion and Malagasy airports.
The resumption of flights between Sainte-Marie and Saint-Denis marks the airline's return to the regional market, following the restart of services to the Comoros via Majunga in late July. According to Rija Tiana Razafimbelo, deputy general manager of Madagascar Airlines, the airline's schedule is flexible and may be adjusted based on demand.
The airline has announced a launch fare of €470 return, although prices on its website are currently listed at around 3.4 million ariary (€700) return as of October 4. The airline is optimistic that the route will be popular during the Réunion school holidays, but may adjust its schedule from late January if demand decreases.
The ATR72 aircraft used for these flights will offer a convenient connection for passengers traveling between Sainte-Marie and Réunion. The airline's services will also support the local tourism industry, which has been eagerly awaiting the resumption of direct flights.
With the resumption of flights between Sainte-Marie and Réunion, Madagascar Airlines is expanding its regional presence, and passengers will have more options for travel between the islands. The airline's schedule and fares will be closely watched by travelers and tourism operators in the region.
Key points
- Madagascar Airlines to operate two weekly flights between Sainte-Marie and Réunion from December 16.
- The airline will use ATR72 aircraft with a capacity of 70 seats for these flights.
- A launch fare of €470 return has been announced for the new route.
