Corsair International, the renowned French airline, has announced the resumption of its flights to Madagascar after a gap of more than four years.
Commencing operations from June 27, 2023, Corsair will now offer two weekly flights between Paris-Orly and Antananarivo-Ivato Airport, with a brief stopover in Réunion. The flights will be operated using the state-of-the-art Airbus A330-900neo aircraft, featuring an enhanced passenger experience, signifying Corsair’s commitment to strengthening its presence in the Indian Ocean region.
Corsair’s decision to reinstate the Paris-Orly to Antananarivo route was welcomed by both travelers and industry experts. The airline had previously served this route since its launch in November 1996 but had to suspend operations in early 2019 due to the loss of regional traffic rights between Réunion and Madagascar.
However, Corsair’s perseverance and close collaboration with Malagasy authorities have paved the way for the revival of this vital air link.
With departures scheduled for Tuesdays and Fridays at 9:20 p.m., the flights will arrive in Antananarivo the following day at 1:20 p.m. The return flights will leave Tananarive on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 5:00 p.m., landing in Paris-Orly the next day at 7:25 a.m. The average flight time is approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes. The Airbus A330-900neo aircraft deployed on this route boasts a total seating capacity of 352, including 20 seats in Business class, 21 in Premium class, and 311 in Economy class (33 of which are in Economy Plus).
Competition
Corsair International will face direct competition from Air France and Air Madagascar (Madagascar Airlines) on this route. Additionally, other carriers such as Air Austral, Air Mauritius, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, and Turkish Airlines indirectly provide alternatives for travelers to and from Madagascar.
In its press release, Corsair emphasized its commitment to the development of the Indian Ocean region and its role in promoting tourism, economic growth, and social development.
Corsair “confirms its ambition to increase its presence in the Indian Ocean, which constitutes a pillar for the development of its network. For this launch, Corsair worked in close collaboration with the Malagasy authorities”, says the press release. “During its 23 years of presence on the Red Island, it has supported its touristic but also economic and social development by promoting the exchange of people and freight, as well as by generating local employment and by s committed to the NGO Aéropartage. Since 2017, Corsair has called on the company ADM Value for the management of its customer relationship, generating 50 local jobs,” the airline recalls.
“Serving Antananarivo is part of Corsair’s history. The Corsair teams are delighted to find their customers in this destination, with the latest generation aircraft, the A330neo, which are more respectful of the environment and help preserve Madagascar’s biodiversity,” said the Chairman and CEO of Corsair Pascal de Izaguirre
Corsair International operates regular flights from multiple French cities, including Paris/Orly, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, and Nantes, to various destinations worldwide. These destinations encompass popular Caribbean islands such as Guadeloupe and Martinique, the enchanting Indian Ocean islands of Réunion, Mauritius, Mayotte, and Madagascar, as well as African countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Benin, and Canada’s vibrant city of Montreal.
