Madagascar Airlines is the national airline of Madagascar, founded in 1947 as Air Madagascar and based at Ivato International in Antananarivo. ATR 72 and Twin Otter aircraft fly to around 11 airports in Madagascar, a practical way to cover the island's long distances. The airline is part of the Vanilla Alliance, and its loyalty scheme is called Namako.
Madagascar Airlines is the national airline of Madagascar, based in Antananarivo. It took over the operations of Air Madagascar and Tsaradia in April 2023 and serves destinations across the island; it formerly also flew to Asia and Europe.
Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with Madagascar Airlines. Routes, schedules, fleet and baggage rules change, so always confirm the details of your booking with the airline.
Madagascar Airlines (IATA: MD, ICAO: MDG) is the state-owned national airline of Madagascar, based at Ivato International Airport in Antananarivo. Since November 2023 it has concentrated on domestic flights, so it is the airline travellers use to cross the island quickly between the capital and towns in other regions of Madagascar.
The company's history starts in 1947, when it was formed as a feeder airline for Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux and Air France. After independence it became the national carrier, was briefly called Madair, and took the name Air Madagascar in 1962. In April 2023 a new company, Madagascar Airlines, took over the operations of Air Madagascar and its domestic subsidiary Tsaradia as a transitional step in a wider restructuring.
The Malagasy state held about 89.56% of the shares as of 2019. Several attempts to bring in a private partner have failed, and the airline has reported heavy losses. Mamy Rakotondraibe was chairman as of November 2023, and chief executive Thierry de Bailleul resigned in October 2025.
International flights were suspended in November 2023 so the airline could focus on its domestic routes. Published records list 14 destinations. Visitors flying in from abroad now arrive on other airlines and switch to Madagascar Airlines for domestic legs. Codeshare partners include Air Austral, Air Mauritius, Air Seychelles, Corsair and Etihad.
The European Union placed the airline on its air safety list in 2011 over the safety of its ageing fleet at the time.
Checked against trusted sources:
Madagascar Airlines official website
Madagascar Airlines (IATA: MD) is the national airline of Madagascar, based at Ivato International Airport in Antananarivo. Founded in 1947 as Air Madagascar, it flies ATR 72 and Twin Otter aircraft to around 11 airports in Madagascar.
| Headquarters | Antananarivo, Madagascar |
|---|---|
| Fleet types | ATR 72 and DHC-6 Twin Otter |
| Frequent flyer | Namako |
| Official website | madagascarairlines.com |
Flight routes
Antananarivo (TNR) departures10 destinations
The fleet has nine aircraft: five ATR 72-500s and one ATR 72-600, all turboprops, plus three DHC-6 Twin Otters that are grounded and due to be sold. That leaves six aircraft in active service for the whole domestic network, so leave slack between a domestic flight and an international departure.
Namako is Madagascar Airlines’ frequent flyer scheme, and you can sign up on madagascarairlines.com.
The airline’s frequent flyer programme lets members collect points on its flights. Check the airline’s website for current rules.
Madagascar Airlines belongs to the Vanilla Alliance, the grouping of Indian Ocean airlines formed in September 2015 with Air Austral, Air Mauritius, Air Seychelles and Int'Air Îles. Namako is the frequent flyer programme.
On Madagascar Airlines, the bag allowance follows your fare type, cabin and route, and the exact figure is printed on your MD e-ticket.
Madagascar Airlines flies ATR 72 turboprops on every route, and the allowance printed on your ticket applies to each domestic flight. If you arrive on an international airline, your domestic allowance can be different.
Here is the order to follow for an MD flight: check in, sort your documents, meet the airport deadline and drop your bags.
Online check-in for MD flights is on the official Madagascar Airlines website. You need the MD booking reference or e-ticket number and the passenger’s surname.
Booking ref + surnameInternational Madagascar Airlines passengers need a passport and whatever visa, residence permit or entry documents the destination requires. Domestic MD passengers should bring a photo ID the airline accepts.
Passport · visa · IDEach airport has its own Madagascar Airlines check-in and bag-drop deadline, listed in your booking. Allow extra time for busy terminals and international MD departures.
Check your deadlineAt the airport, take your bags to the Madagascar Airlines bag-drop point. Collect a printed MD boarding pass there if you have not saved one to your phone.
Madagascar Airlines counterA few booking habits that tend to cut the cost of flying Madagascar Airlines.
If your dates can move, look at MD flights across the whole week. Midweek seats are often cheaper than weekend ones.
Midweek flightsMadagascar Airlines prices climb around school holidays and big festivals. Flying a few days before or after the rush usually helps.
School holidays · festivalsA Madagascar Airlines fare that includes a checked bag, seat choice or cheaper changes can cost less overall than adding those extras later.
Baggage & changesPopular Madagascar Airlines flights fill the cheaper fares first, so give yourself several weeks of lead time on busy routes.
Popular routesJoin Namako before your first Madagascar Airlines flight so the trip earns points from day one.
Before you flySearch Madagascar Airlines alongside every other airline on your route, with flexible dates.
Search Madagascar Airlines flightsOthers of this kind you opened on this device, so you can get back to them quickly.
There are two: MD for IATA and MDG for ICAO, and pilots use the radio callsign AIR MADAGASCAR.
Its main hub is Ivato International (TNR) in Antananarivo, and its head office is in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Only a regional one. The Vanilla Alliance groups Indian Ocean carriers such as Air Mauritius and Air Austral, which matters when a trip links Madagascar with Mauritius or Réunion.
Expect an ATR 72 turboprop. Six of them carried the scheduled domestic flights in July 2026.
Yes, it is called Namako. Give your Namako number when you book so the flight counts towards your rewards.
In practice, yes. It is the successor company and flies the former Air Madagascar and Tsaradia routes under a new name.
Open Manage Booking on madagascarairlines.com or check your e-ticket. Madagascar Airlines sets the allowance by route, cabin and fare type.
Get an answer from the bookingMentor travel team and travellers who have flown Madagascar Airlines.
Everything travellers ask before flying Madagascar Airlines.
Answers checked against Madagascar Airlines’ official website and published airline records. Reviewed 10 October 2026.
Getting there
Madagascar Airlines uses the IATA code MD and the ICAO code MDG. Its radio callsign is AIR MADAGASCAR.
The Madagascar Airlines baggage allowance depends on your route, cabin and fare. The Baggage allowance section of this guide gives 4 figures, by cabin and route where they differ. Check the allowance printed on your ticket before you pack.
Check in on madagascarairlines.com. The Check-in section of this guide walks through it in 4 steps.
Yes, Madagascar Airlines is a member of Vanilla Alliance.
Madagascar Airlines was founded in 1947, 79 years ago.
Contact Madagascar Airlines through its official website, madagascarairlines.com.
General
Booking
Madagascar Airlines flies to 11 destinations. They are listed by region, with fares and route guides where we have them, in the destinations section of this page.
Prices & payment
This guide has 5 money-saving tips for Madagascar Airlines, from "look across the week" to "join Namako".
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