Emirates will launch flights to Madagascar from 3 September 2024, offering more choice and connectivity for travellers, and driving inbound leisure and business travel to the country. The four-weekly flights between Dubai (DXB) and Antananarivo (TNR), will operate via a linked service with the Seychelles.
Boosting international travel to and from Madagascar, the flight times have been scheduled to optimise connections to and from key points in Europe, the Far East, West Asia and the Middle East/GCC. EK707 will depart from Dubai to the Seychelles at 0855hrs, arriving in Mahe at 1335hrs*, and will continue on to Antananarivo to land at 1650hrs. The return flight EK708 departs Antananarivo at 1835hrs, landing in Mahe at 2220hrs. The flight then takes off from Mahe at 2350hrs to Dubai, landing at 0420hrs the next day. Flights will operate on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Travellers wanting to combine two holidays in one also have the option to conveniently fly between the Seychelles and Madagascar in style and comfort.
Tourism is a key pillar in Madagascar’s economy, contributing to the creation of thousands of employment opportunities that support the country’s goal to serve one million tourists by 2028. Emirates’ new route will provide connectivity from over 140 points in its global network, supporting the Ministry of Tourism’s strategy to diversify target markets and introduce international travellers to the island’s many natural attractions. Emirates is also in discussion with Air Madagascar to offer further global connectivity to promote tourism and trade.
Madagascar is the world’s fourth largest island, boasting stunning scenery from white sandy beaches and emerald waters, to lush rainforests and national parks and the fossilized shells on limestone plateaus. Colloquially referred to as Treasure Island, it is home to three World Heritage UNESCO sites.
Adventurers can partake in a number of exciting activities, such as hiking, trekking or quad biking, or take to the seas with kite surfing, scuba diving or whale watching. Animal lovers can visit Lemur’s Park and discover nine types of lemurs, along with other wildlife and fauna, while food aficionados can sample the traditional cuisine and delicious local produce.
Madagascar is also home to a wealth of precious biodiversity, with 5% of the planet’s plant and animal species found only on the island. To protect the intricacies of the natural world, Madagascar encourages ecotourism, enabling visitors to immerse themselves in the abundance of nature and embrace the local culture while respecting the environment.
The UAE and Madagascar have grown their bilateral relationship across a number of sectors, including commercial, logistics and other industries to reinforce the growth of mutual trade. With the launch of the passenger flight, the airline’s cargo arm, Emirates SkyCargo, will support this by exporting goods via its state-of-the-art hub in Dubai, into key markets such as the UAE, China, Indonesia, the United States and France, among others.
Fuelled by the country’s entrepreneurial spirit, more Malagasy businesses are targeting global audiences. Offering 22 tonnes of bellyhold cargo capacity in and out of Antananarivo every week, Emirates SkyCargo will uplift key commodities such as fresh fruits and vegetables, vanilla, textiles and mining products, transporting them quickly, efficiently and reliably via the airline’s multi-vertical specialized product portfolio.
