Aviation History
Madagascar's aviation history traces to 1947, when Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux operated as an Air France feeder; after independence this became Madair and then, in 1962, Air Madagascar. The carrier grew into a long-haul operator flying Boeing 707s, 737s and a 747-200 Combi, but was banned from EU airspace in 2011 over safety concerns and later suffered severe financial distress, including the 2020 exit of partner Air Austral amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Its operations were restructured under a new entity, Madagascar Airlines, from April 2023, reflecting an aviation sector still working through bankruptcy-driven reorganization.
Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux (TAI) started operating as a feeder airline for Air France in Madagascar, the earliest root of the country's national carrier.
Following independence in 1960 and a brief period as "Madair," the carrier was renamed Air Madagascar and became the national flag carrier.
Air Madagascar added a Boeing 747-200B Combi to its fleet, enabling expanded long-haul service to Europe.
The European Union banned Air Madagascar from EU airspace over safety compliance concerns, forcing the airline to charter aircraft from other operators to maintain its Paris route.
Air Madagascar arranged a wet-lease agreement with Air France, allowing it to resume flying to Paris under its own livery.
Réunion-based Air Austral acquired a 49% stake in Air Madagascar as part of a restructuring and modernization effort.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on air travel, Air Austral ended its partnership in 2020, leaving Air Madagascar with roughly $80 million in debt.
In April 2023, Madagascar Airlines obtained its own Air Operator Certificate and took over the operations of bankrupt Air Madagascar and its domestic subsidiary Tsaradia as part of a restructuring process.
Air Madagascar · Tsaradia (domestic subsidiary) · Madagascar Airlines
Wikipedia, Simple Flying, EU Air Safety List records, aviation trade press