Emirates will launch flights to Madagascar from September 3, 2024, providing more choice and connectivity for travelers, and promoting tourism and business travel to the country. The four-weekly flights between Dubai (DXB) and Antananarivo (TNR) will be operated via Seychelles.
Flight schedules have been scheduled to optimize connections to and from major points in Europe, Far East, West Asia and the Middle East/GCC, which will boost international travel to and from from Madagascar. Flight EK707 will depart Dubai for Seychelles at 8:55 a.m., arrive in Mahé at 1:35 p.m.* and continue to Antananarivo where it will land at 4:50 p.m. The return flight EK708 will depart from Antananarivo at 6:35 p.m. and land in Mahé at 10:20 p.m. The flight will then depart from Mahé at 11:50 p.m. for Dubai, landing at 4:20 a.m. the following day. Flights will take place on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Passengers will also be able to board in Seychelles to continue their journey to Madagascar, and vice versa.
Tourism is a key pillar of the Malagasy economy, contributing to the creation of thousands of jobs that support the country’s goal of welcoming one million tourists by 2028. Emirates’ new route will provide connectivity with more than 140 destinations in its global network, supporting the Ministry of Tourism’s strategy to diversify target markets and introduce international travelers to the island’s many natural attractions. Emirates is also in discussions with Air Madagascar to offer additional global connectivity to promote tourism and trade.
Adnan Kazim, Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates, said: “Madagascar has historically been underserved, despite travelers’ growing interest in authentic ecotourism experiences. Emirates understands the importance of providing its customers with efficient connectivity and premium travel experiences. We are confident that this new service will have a positive impact on Madagascar’s connectivity, providing more opportunities for travelers to discover this hidden gem, in addition to opening up new international business opportunities.
The Malagasy government is working to develop its tourism sector by attracting more tourists to discover the island’s biodiversity and renowned natural attractions. Emirates is ready to support Madagascar’s tourism program, by encouraging visitors from across its network. We thank the Malagasy government for their partnership and support in establishing this route and look forward to welcoming passengers on board soon.”
HE Valery Ramonjavelo, Malagasy Minister of Transport and Meteorology, said: “Our agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Madagascar paves the way for this new link between Antananarivo and Dubai, and represents a significant step forward for the development of tourism and tourism. trade between the two countries. This is extremely positive news in more than one way, because it is a new gateway between Madagascar and the world, via the Dubai hub, which is the largest in the world in terms of number of passengers.
This link will also promote international awareness of Madagascar’s incredible tourist and cultural treasures, while creating new business opportunities. The association of our national airline with this new Emirates route will strengthen connectivity for our provinces.”
Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world, with stunning landscapes, white sand beaches and emerald waters, lush rainforests, national parks and fossilized seashells on limestone plateaus. Colloquially called Treasure Island, it is home to three UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Adventurers can indulge in a number of exciting activities, such as hiking, trekking or quad biking, or take to the open sea with kitesurfing, scuba diving or whale watching. Animal lovers can visit the Lemur Park and discover nine types of lemurs, as well as other species of flora and fauna, while food lovers can sample traditional cuisine and delicious local produce.
Madagascar is also home to valuable biodiversity: 5% of the planet’s plant and animal species are found only on the island. To protect the complexities of the natural world, Madagascar encourages ecotourism, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the abundance of nature and embrace local culture while respecting the environment.
The UAE and Madagascar have expanded their bilateral relations in a number of sectors, including trade, logistics and other industries, to enhance the growth of mutual trade. With the launch of the passenger flight, the airline’s cargo arm, Emirates SkyCargo, will support this development by exporting goods through its state-of-the-art hub in Dubai, to key markets such as the UAE, China, Indonesia, the United States and France, among others.
Stimulated by the country’s entrepreneurial spirit, more and more Malagasy companies are targeting the global market. Offering 22 tonnes of hold cargo capacity to and from Antananarivo each week, Emirates SkyCargo will transport key cargo such as fresh fruit and vegetables, vanilla, textiles and mining products, quickly, efficiently and reliable, thanks to the airline’s multi-vertical specialist product portfolio.
The Dubai-Antananarivo route will be served by the Boeing 777-300ER, with 8 suites in First Class, 42 suites in Business Class and 310 seats in Economy Class. Delivering the best experience in the sky, passengers can dine on regionally inspired multi-course menus created by a team of award-winning chefs, complemented by a wide selection of premium beverages. Customers can watch more than 6,500 channels of international entertainment in multiple languages on Ice, Emirates’ award-winning in-flight entertainment system.
Tickets can be booked now on emirates.com or through travel agents.
