• Madagascar invests $2.2 million in airport upgrades as part of a broader €23.5 million modernization plan

• Ivato airport tarmac expansion is 80% complete; domestic terminal set for end-2025 completion

• Government aims to surpass one million annual tourist arrivals by 2028

Madagascar has made airport modernization a central part of its strategy to stimulate tourism and increase air traffic, both of which were severely impacted by the pandemic and the global fuel crisis. Several infrastructure upgrades are underway at Ivato International Airport in Antananarivo and at Nosy Be Airport, both managed by Ravinala Airports.

According to local press citing CEO Daniel Lefebvre, work on the tarmac expansion at Ivato is already 80% complete and scheduled for delivery in early July 2025. In parallel, the domestic terminal is being renovated, with completion expected by the end of the year. These upgrades are being executed at a cost of €2 million (about $2.2 million).

These projects are part of a broader €23.5 million modernization initiative launched by the government in March 2025. The plan is designed to double the airports’ capacity to accommodate rising demand, support the development of national carrier Madagascar Airlines, and improve the overall travel experience for visitors.

At Ivato, the upgraded infrastructure will allow the airport to handle 1.1 million passengers in 2025, up from 900,000 in 2024. According to the government's tourism road map, international visitor numbers are expected to grow from 308,275 in 2024 to one million annually by 2028.