A new private airline company will soon compete with the national company Air Madagascar on the domestic flights market, RFI reported on 15 October.

Labelled Madagasikara Airways, the new transporter is currently seeking official approval, the same source added. “We have requested from the Civil Aviation of Madagascar (ACM), in our desire to liberalise the airline industry, that they support and grant the necessary certifications to Madagasikara Airways”, Jacques Ulrich Andriantiana, Minister of Transports and Tourism, assures.

The new company will in the first stage operate connections between Antananarivo and Tamatave and Sainte-Marie on the East coast. The first commercial flight is scheduled for 26 October.

Domestic flights remained until now the preserve of Air Madagascar, but the State recently decided to liberalise the air industry in order to develop the tourism sector in the country. “If we really want to reach the number of one million tourists by 2020, then we must liberalise. For comparison, at the moment, Mauritius is serviced by about 40 airlines, the figure is of barely 10 for Madagascar”, Mr. Andriantiana argues.