An ATR 72 aircraft operated by Madagascar Airlines is expected to arrive at La Réunion Roland-Garros Airport on Saturday, October 3, 2026. This arrival is part of a broader plan to restart commercial flights on a route connecting La Réunion, Sainte-Marie, and Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. The route will be offered twice a week, starting on December 16, 2026. For travelers from La Réunion, the new service will include a direct flight to Sainte-Marie, an island in northeastern Madagascar, with Antananarivo being served as a secondary destination. It is important to note that the arrival of the aircraft on October 3 is separate from the resumption of regular commercial flights. The ATR 72 will be present at Roland-Garros Airport to support a promotional event titled Cap sur l'île Sainte-Marie, which is taking place in Saint-Paul on the same day. Regular flights are not expected to begin until December 16, as announced by Madagascar Airlines and the airport authorities. The planned route will operate twice a week using the ATR 72 aircraft, with each flight offering approximately 70 seats. The airline estimates that this will provide around 14,560 seats annually. However, the specific days and times for the flights have not been disclosed. The route will connect La Réunion to Sainte-Marie, also known as Nosy Boraha, before continuing to Antananarivo. This arrangement allows for a direct connection between La Réunion and Sainte-Marie while also linking to the capital city. For Roland-Garros Airport, the addition of Sainte-Marie to its direct flight options to Madagascar is a significant development. The airport already lists several other Malagasy destinations accessible without stopovers, including Antananarivo, Toamasina, Antsiranana, and Nosy Be. Fabrice Grondin, a member of the airport's board, noted in a statement that two flights per week will connect La Réunion to Sainte-Marie. This announcement marks a new phase for Madagascar Airlines, which suspended its international flights at the end of 2023 due to financial difficulties. The airline had not operated flights to La Réunion since 2024. The resumption of flights in December will need to be confirmed through the regular operation of the route, beyond the scheduled arrival of the aircraft on October 3. It is also worth noting that Madagascar Airlines had not completely disappeared from booking options to La Réunion, as its website still lists flights from Antananarivo sold through code-sharing agreements with other airlines. Madagascar Airlines plans to reintroduce its historical name, Air Madagascar, on October 31 of next year. This brand return is highly anticipated and aims to restore passenger confidence and gradually rebuild its regional and international network, which has been affected by years of crisis.