
On September 4th, Emirate has landed in Antananarivo, Madagascar for the first time. The arrival of EK707 was celebrated with a water canon salute at Ivato International Airport, followed by an exclusive event for VIPs, government officials, industry guests, and media.
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Commanding the inaugural flight to Antananarivo was Canadian national Captain Bruce Pope and Captain Solo Chuk, a Malagasy pilot who has been flying for Emirates for 14 years. The inaugural flight operated with an almost full passenger load from Mahe, the Seychelles, taking advantage of the enhanced travel options available on the linked service by merging two trips into one.
EK707 departs from Dubai to the Seychelles at 0855hrs, arriving in Mahe at 1335hrs, and continues to Antananarivo to land at 1650hrs. The return flight EK708 departs Antananarivo at 1835hrs, landing in Mahe at 2220hrs, and taking off from Mahe at 2350hrs to Dubai, landing at 0420hrs the next day. The four-weekly service operates on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
His Excellency, Andry Rajoelina, President of the Republic of Madagascar, said: “In just four months, through shared determination and hard work, we have successfully launched this long-awaited inaugural flight between Dubai and Antananarivo with Emirates. This is a historic moment for Madagascar, and I am convinced that it will act as a catalyst and a true lever for tourism and economic development in our country. Madagascar opens its skies to Emirates, and through Emirates, Madagascar opens itself to the world. Together, let’s continue to dream, build, and grow for the good of our nation.”
Commenting on the start of operations, Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer Emirates, stated: “Madagascar is a new and exciting destination on our vast global network, unlocking a world of natural wonders, rare and diverse wildlife, and a rich, vibrant culture. As the Malagasy government continues to grow its tourism industry with the aim to attract one million tourists by 2028, we proudly support this vision by enhancing connectivity and premium travel options to encourage more international travellers to discover the island.”