Air Madagascar (Antananarivo) will replace two of its three B737-300s - 5R-MFH (msn 26305) and 5R-MFI (msn 26301) - with ARJ85s when their lease agreements expire at the end of this year Managing Director Haja Raelison has said. The decision to switch to the quadjets came after an evaluation committee recommended the type as better suited to the country's more remote airports.
"While the renewal of the two Boeing's contracts is a possibility, they are old, so their operating expenses including fuel and maintenance are high. Moreover, the new generation Boeing are not suited to our infrastructure. After reviewing several options, the Avro aircraft responded best to our financial and technical criteria," Raelison told the local press.
Should talks with the aircraft's leasing firm succeed, the first Avro should arrive in Antananarivo in late October. Initial plans are to lease the planes for a period of two years though this could be extended depending on their suitability. An additional two aircraft could also be secured in the long run.
At present, the Malagasy national carrier operates the B737s on flights to Antsiranana, Tolanaro, Morondava, Nosy-Be, Sambava, and Tulear locally as well as to Dzaoudzi, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo, Moroni International, and St. Denis de la Réunion regionally.
In addition to its two ATR42s and two ATR72-500s, the airline also operates two A340-300s on longhaul flights to the Far East. Air Madagascar is also hoping to be removed from the European Union's Banned Operator's List Annex B (airlines restricted to only operating certain aircraft within the EU) in November this year paving the way for its resume serving the EU using its own aircraft and crews.
