Following a meeting of the Board of Directors of Air Madagascar, the airline, following an extensive search for a strategic partner and investor, has recommended to the government of Madagascar that Reunion’s home airline, Air Austral, be considered as the preferred airline.
There has been sustained speculation over the upcoming privatization exercise of the Malagasy national airline after seven carriers were shortlisted, Air Austral among them.
Air Madagascar has also received a renewal of the coveted IOSA certification while the European Union’s EASA, short for European Aviation Safety Agency, has renewed their EASA Part 145 approvals for the airline, a major accomplishment since exiting the notorious EU aviation black list some time ago.
Air Austral and Air Madagascar are already cooperating with a code-shared flight to China, and once the government in Antananarivo approves the deal both Reunion, where Air Austral is based, and Madagascar, they are expected to reap major benefits through increased air travel.
Air Austral, through their subsidiary EWA Air based in Mayotte, now also offers a once-a-week connection to Tanzania’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, although passengers out of St. Denis Roland Garros International Airport need to change planes in Mayotte for the final sector.
In a related development, it was also learned that Air Austral apparently plans to launch flights to New York’s JFK.
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