Airlink postpones the resumption of its flights to Madagascar until June
Airlink's Johannesburg - Nosy Be route will not resume any time soon. According to a statement from the private South African company, published on February 16, its only line between South Africa and Madagascar will remain out of service until June 27.
“Unfortunately, despite the multiple efforts of the Nosy Be lodges, Nosy Be Tourist Office and Ravinala airports, we have so far not been able to obtain certainty as to when Madagascar intends to reopen its borders for regional travel. Consequently, this leaves us no other choice but to cancel in the meantime, our flights planned on this route”, regrets Rodger Foster, Chairman and CEO of AirLink.
Although its borders have remained closed since March 2020, Madagascar reopened the island of Nosy-Be to tourists on October 1. But since January 16, the Civil Aviation of Madagascar (ACM) has drawn up a list of 44 countries, whose nationals do not have access to "the perfume island". Among them are 7 African nations, including South Africa. “In view of the multiple commitments we have with the Malagasy authorities, we hope that the borders will reopen in time for AirLink to resume its services for the peak period of the June / July vacation in South Africa, followed by the period of “August to October, which coincides with the return of whale sharks to the island,” hopes Mr. Foster.
