Emirates lands in Madagascar for first time

Emirates has landed in Antananarivo, Madagascar for the first time and was celebrated with a water canon salute at Ivato International Airport, followed by an exclusive event for VIPs, government officials and industry guests.

Commanding the inaugural flight, EK707, to Antananarivo was Canadian national Captain Bruce Pope and First Officer Solo Chuk, a Malagasy pilot who has been flying for Emirates for 14 years.

The 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.

Commenting on the start of operations,Emirates Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Adnan Kazim said, “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.”

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.