2023-04-18 02:50:48
Madagascar Airlines can definitely take off. In a press release published late in the evening yesterday, it announced that it had obtained the necessary documents officially granting it the status of National Company.
It’s done. “Madagascar Airlines obtains its air carrier certificate as well as its operating license and officially becomes the Malagasy National Company”, announces the entry of a press release from the company published yesterday shortly after 10 p.m. Also according to this press release, these documents were obtained from the Civil Aviation of Madagascar, yesterday, “after having passed the five mandatory phases in terms of regulations, security and safety launched almost a year ago”. The pace and the words of the press release bear witness to the palpable euphoria among those responsible for this is now the new airline that will carry the Malagasy banner. “Thanks to these certifications of international recognition, Madagascar Airlines will serve with assurance and pride the eight main national airports of the Big Island in addition to the regional and European lines already acquired”, adds the missive in a jubilant tone. It also states that Madagascar Airlines intends to reconquer the Asian market in the coming months, “and ten new skies in the coming years”. This new national company was born from the merger between Air Madagascar and Tsaradia. As Thierry de Bailleul, its managing director, argued during his official presentation at the Iavoloha State Palace in December, the objective is to make this Company “a phoenix” of air transport. The first step is to avoid a recurrence of the tribulations that led to the bankruptcy of Air Madagascar. Rinah Rakotomanga, President of the Board of Directors (PCA), of Madagascar Airlines, speaks of “operational excellence with certain regularity, assured punctuality and sustainable profitability”, as the keys to the success of the new national company.
Expand the fleet
On the question of finances, she argues that the Company intends to open its capital to the national private sector, in addition to the increase in the destinations to be served as indicated in the press release. According to its PCA, to restore its letters of nobility to the Malagasy aviation, “revitalization, new impetus and innovation are a must for us. We will rely on experiences from here and elsewhere in the search for operational excellence. But everything is done gradually because in the air everything can happen. For us, it’s security first, both for the passengers and for the Company”. She affirms that since the takeover of the operation of Air Madagascar and Tsaradia by Madagascar Airlines, the regularity of the flights “is 80%, the punctuality of 90% except for some irregularities related to the aircraft and the filling rate of the flights both national and international is 70%”. To boost the load factor, Madagascar Airlines will also start negotiations with the teams of the “International air transport association” (IATA), today. Negotiations to reintegrate the “IATA clearing house” (ICH), and the “Billing and settlement plan” (BSP), two entities inherent to IATA. Air Madagascar has been suspended from the ICH since 2016 and left the BSP since 2018. The ICH and the BSP indeed provide regulation and organization services for financial transactions between IATA approved partners, at namely airlines, travel agencies and tour operators. To take off definitively and especially to reconquer the regional and international market, Madagascar Airlines will have to expand its fleet. For the time being, the new National Company performs its long-haul flights with an Airbus A330-200 leased on a short-term basis from Air Belgium. A device that is no match for the Air France A350-900, which makes the Paris – Antananarivo connection. In December, the leasing of an Embraer 190 type 2 was announced. According to information, the signing of the “lease agreement” should take place this week. The device will thus have to start its commissioning process before the end of this month. Commissioning consists of the training of pilots, aircrew and mechanics. It is expected that the Embraer 190 type 2 will land in Madagascar before the national holiday. It will be mainly intended to strengthen regional flights. Earlier this month, online media reported the idea of acquiring a Boeing 787-900 Dreamliner. It was mentioned by Valery Ramonjavelo, Minister of Transport and Meteorology, on the sidelines of the opening of the regional economic forum, in Toamasina. This aircraft will be intended for long-haul flights. The best option in relation to quality, comfort and profitability according to the explanations. The problem would be that this device is popular on the market, which would complicate negotiations due to the law of supply and demand.
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