Air Madagascar

History

The airline traces its roots to Madair, founded in March 1947, which became Air Madagascar (Société Nationale Malgache de Transports Aériens) in 1962 at Malagasy independence and grew into the country's long-standing flag carrier, serving domestic routes plus links to Europe, Africa, and Asia. Decades of financial losses, fleet difficulties, and management crises culminated in a formal restructuring: in April 2023 Air Madagascar's operations (along with its domestic subsidiary Tsaradia) were transferred to a new operating entity, Madagascar Airlines, under a new air operator's certificate, while the state-majority ownership structure was largely carried over.

Current Operations

Madagascar Airlines (the rebranded successor to Air Madagascar) currently operates a limited fleet centered on ATR 72 turboprops from its Ivato International Airport hub in Antananarivo, focused primarily on domestic Malagasy routes; international long-haul service was suspended in November 2023 to prioritize the domestic network amid the carrier's ongoing financial difficulties. The airline rejoined IATA in 2024 and has secured Malagasy state support, including funding for additional ATR 72-500 aircraft, as it works to rebuild capacity, though it remains dependent on government backing and has not yet restored a broad international network.

Last verified 2026-09-02· Source: airline public disclosures, company press releases & aviation-industry reporting.

Serves These Profiled Airports8

Sample Routes2