Africa-Press. Comoros and Madagascar have officially resumed direct flights between them after a nearly four-year interruption, marking a new breakthrough in bilateral relations following years of diplomatic tension.
The Malagasy airline launched its first flight between Moroni and Antananarivo on Thursday, while Comorian airline “Royal Air” announced the launch of its first flights to Madagascar on Saturday, August 1.
The resumption of air traffic between the two countries follows a series of communications and meetings among officials in the aviation sector, which resulted in the completion of the necessary technical and regulatory procedures to restart direct flights.
The Comorian embassy in Madagascar had previously announced that flights between the two countries would resume starting July 30, confirming that the decision was the result of a series of meetings held by the Comorian ambassador to Madagascar, Kabbah Al-Yashrti Muhammad, with officials from the Civil Aviation Authority and the Malagasy airline management.
The embassy clarified, via its official Facebook page, that the first phase will see two flights per week on Thursdays and Sundays, gradually restoring air connectivity between the two countries.
Additionally, the Comorian ambassador held a meeting with the CEO of the Malagasy airline, Rabarilala Rado, to discuss prospects for cooperation in the field of air transport, where both sides confirmed the resumption of direct flights starting July 30.
The discussions were not limited to the resumption of current flights but also addressed the possibility of launching new future routes connecting Moroni and Antananarivo to the French city of Marseille, as well as enhancing regional air connectivity between Comoros, Madagascar, and neighboring countries, contributing to the support of travel and trade.
For its part, “Royal Air” announced that it had received official approvals from the relevant authorities in Madagascar to operate its flights to the country.
The company confirmed, in a statement published on its official Facebook page, that Saturday would witness the launch of the first direct flight between Moroni and the city of Mahajanga.
The statement read: “We are pleased to announce the launch of the first flight connecting Moroni and Mahajanga on August 1,” adding that the new route will shorten distances between Comoros and Madagascar, providing travelers with a more convenient, faster, and comfortable journey.
“Royal Air” explained that it operates an aircraft with a capacity of 72 passengers, which is of the same model used by the Malagasy airline and “Ewa Air,” noting that the aircraft is registered in Denmark and meets all technical and regulatory requirements for civil aviation.
The company also owns another aircraft with a capacity of 50 passengers, capable of completing the journey between Moroni and Antananarivo in about one hour and ten minutes, which helps reduce travel time between the two countries.
The company also announced its intention to offer round-trip tickets on the Anjouan – Mahajanga route for 203,000 Comorian francs, as part of its strategy to provide competitive air transport services and encourage passenger movement.
The President of Comoros, Ghazali Osman, announced during the celebrations of the 51st anniversary of the country’s independence on July 6 that the resumption of flights with Madagascar was imminent after a four-year hiatus.
The resumption of flights comes after improved relations between the two countries, following years of diplomatic tension that peaked after the seizure of 49 kilograms of gold bars in Comoros in December 2021.
The case ended with the return of the gold bars to the Malagasy authorities in March 2025, under an agreement between the two countries, which helped create an environment conducive to restoring bilateral cooperation in several areas, including air transport.
The resumption of direct flights is expected to invigorate travel between Comoros and Madagascar, support trade and tourism exchanges, and strengthen economic and humanitarian ties between the two countries after years of interrupted direct air transport.
