Madagascar ‘coup’ triggers airspace uncertainty and flight disruption
October 14, 2025
Air travel to and from Madagascar faced mounting disruption on Tuesday after the country’s military was reported to have seized control of the government.
Tensions have been simmering for weeks on the Indian Ocean island, and spilt over this week, leading to the armed forces taking power and triggering chaos within the local and regional aviation sector.
The power shift followed an announcement by Michael Randrianirina, an officer in Madagascar’s elite military unit, who declared that the armed forces had taken control of the country shortly after parliament voted to impeach President Andry Rajoelina.
The president is believed to have fled as soldiers took power in the capital, Antananarivo.
Political upheaval triggers Madagascar flight chaos
Emirates and Turkish Airlines have both cancelled flights in recent weeks because of the unrest.
Emirates, which only began flying to Madagascar a year ago, said on Tuesday it was halting flights to Antananarivo indefinitely as unrest continues to spread across the nation following the military power grab. It immediately suspended its service, which operates via Seychelles, and cancelled flights EK707 and EK708.
Air France has also suspended its Paris Charles de Gaulle–Antananarivo service. The Air France website says the flight is cancelled “for safety or health reasons”.
Air Austral, based on La Réunion Island, also suspended services to Antananarivo.
However, some services were still operating on Tuesday. They included Turkish Airlines’ connection from Istanbul via Mauritius, and Ethiopian’s flight from Addis Ababa.
A note on the Antananarivo International Airport website reads: “Due to the current circumstances in Antananarivo, some flights may be subject to disruption.
“Passengers are encouraged to contact their airline directly for any information regarding their flight.”
Stranded tourists in Madagascar as flights are cancelled
At the end of last month, a group of Dutch tourists was left stranded in Madagascar after airlines suspended flights.
Madagascar’s aviation network is a vital lifeline for tourism and trade, connecting remote island communities and supporting exports of vanilla, minerals and seafood.
Many countries have issued travel warnings and are advising citizens to postpone non-essential travel to Madagascar until stability is restored.
The country’s flag carrier, Madagascar Airlines, which recently resumed expansion efforts after years of financial turbulence, may face fresh uncertainty if sanctions or further travel advisories are imposed.
The airline said in a statement on its website: “Since September 25, 2025, Madagascar has been facing a situation of social instability leading to protests in several cities.
“The Malagasy authorities have imposed a curfew in certain areas, particularly in Antananarivo, for public safety reasons.
“These circumstances, beyond our control, may result in flight changes, delays, or cancellations.
“We are making every effort to minimise inconvenience and ensure the fastest possible service for our customers.”
