Emirates is expanding its global network with the start of flights to Madagascar with a stopover in Seychelles, this new route will boost tourism and trade between the African country and other regions of the world.
Flight EK 707 was operated by a Boeing 777 registered as A6-EPU, which departed Dubai International Airport at 08:11 on 3 September arrived at Seychelles International Airport at 12:09, then took off from Mahe Island at 14:15 and landed at Ivato International Airport at 15:23, all in local time.
The inaugural flight ceremony was attended by several government representatives, media, guests and members of the travel industry from Madagascar and the United Arab Emirates, the service operated with a passenger load almost 100% from Mahe. The Emirates service will contribute to the Madagascar government’s goal of attracting one million tourists by 2028.
“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 real lever for tourism and economic development in our country. Madagascar opens its skies to Emirates and, through Emirates, Madagascar opens to the world. Together, let us continue to dream, build and grow for the good of our nation,” said Andry Rajoelina, President of the Republic of Madagascar.
International airlines also operating at Ivato Airport include Air Austral, Air France, Air Mauritius, Airlink, Corsair International, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways and Turkish Airlines.
Flight schedule to Madagascar
- Dubai – Mahe Flight EK 707 DXB 08:55 – SEZ 13:35 Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
- Mahe – Antananarivo Flight EK 707 SEZ 15:05 – TNR 16:50 Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
- Antananarivo – Mahe Flight EK 708 TNR 18:35 – SEZ 22:20 Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
- Mahe – Dubai Flight EK 708 SEZ 02:15 – DXB 06:50 Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
The route is operated on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with capacity for 360 passengers in three classes: 8 First Class, 42 Business and 310 in Economy. The schedules allow for fluid connections to destinations in Europe, the Far East, Western Asia and the Middle East.
Emirates’ African network also has services to Abidjan, Accra, Addis Ababa, Algiers, Cairo, Conakry, Casablanca, Cape Town, Dar Es Salaam, Durban, Entebbe, Harare, Johannesburg, Luanda, Lusaka, Mauritius, Nairobi and Tunis.
See also: Emirates Completes Acquisition of Five A380s for USD 200 Million
