Airlink discontinues Nosy Be Madagascar service

“Uptake has been extremely poor on the direct Saturday JNB-NOS service. Trade have continued to show a preference to route their passengers via Antananarivo (TNR), presumably due to the more favourable fares offered on the JNB-TNR segments, underpinned by business travel, and the very attractive onward domestic fares offered by Air Madagascar on its TNR-NOS connections,” comments Karin Murray, Airlink marketing manager.

Accommodation in Nosy Be during the months of August to November is also extremely scarce due to the European summer peak and the dramatic increase of European operators now flying direct into Nosy Be from Europe, with Air Madagascar and Corsair now operating scheduled services, along with two charter operators. Consequently South African tour operators are struggling to source sufficient beds with which to support Airlink's direct service in the months ahead.

From 27 October 2007 Air Madagascar will also be re-timing its Saturday TNR-JNB flights, operating the B767. This substantially increased capacity will be in further direct competition with Airlink's direct Saturday JNB-NOS service.

Even though Airlink has downscaled the capacity of the aircraft it operates on the route, it has become uneconomical to continue operating the direct service. Airlink will re-accommodate passengers already holding ticketed bookings for the period August to end October onto its Sunday flights to TNR, which provide convenient same day connections to/from Nosy Be on the domestic services of Air Madagascar. Passengers already ticketed on Airlink's services after 27 October will be re-accommodated on Air Madagascar's Saturday services.

Airlink has been providing services to Madagascar since April 2006 and is encouraged to see the growth experienced, particularly on the JNB-Antananarivo route. Additional services are planned to be introduced between JNB and TNR in the near future, which will provide a daily Monday to Friday service, allowing business travellers to Antananarivo more flexibility and convenience. Airlink also provides a weekly flight to the mining town of Fort Dauphine, on the Southern side of Madagascar.