Air Madagascar (MD, Antananarivo) has suspended its flights to France for a period of two weeks commencing January 21 until February 8. The carrier said in a statement that the aircraft needed to operate its services to Paris CDG, an A340-300 TF-EAB (cn 210) wet-leased from Air Atlanta Icelandic, is undergoing critical maintenance before being returned to revenue service.
The aircraft is the only widebody jet in the Malagasy carrier's fleet that is permitted to serve the European Union. It is recalled that Air Madagascar is listed under Annex B of the list of air carriers banned from serving the European Union. Air carriers listed in the Annex can be permitted to exercise traffic rights by wet-leasing aircraft from an operator not subject to any operating ban, provided the relevant safety standards are complied with.
Air Madagascar's other A340-300 is operated by the carrier itself on a twice weekly Antananarivo-Bangkok Suvarnabhumi-Guangzhou service.
