"dreadful first impression"
O Stein (Australia)
✅ Trip Verified | Their new terminal looks far from finished, and the existing buildings are probably what you'd expect in one of the worlds poorest countries. At immigration people from back in the queue kept being prioritised through, and we were asked for a tip from an official loading our luggage through the scanner. Random officials asked for our documents for no apparent reason and we fought off some very aggressive people wanting to assist with our luggage. Checking in was fairly chaotic, not helped by the lack of space. The ATMs worked and many people looked to be working hard to make this place function, but overall Ivato airport gives a dreadful first impression to anyone coming to Madagascar.
Experience At Airport | Arrival and Departure |
Date Visit | August 2018 |
Type Of Traveller | Couple Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Airport Shopping | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | no |
"almost nothing to eat or drink"
T Richards (Madagascar)
✅ Trip Verified |
L’aéroport est certes en train d’être rénové mais quand même: -ils ont vérifé prés de 10 fois nos passeports et nos billets, -il n'y a presque rien a manger ni a boire dans la zone, -nos amis n'ont pas eu le droit d'entrer dans l’aéroport mais seulement dans le parking , -les écrans ne marchent pas, -des raquetteurs sont présents partout et exigent des devises, Merci de bien tenir compte de ces remarques. - The airport is certainly being renovated but still: -they have checked our passports and our tickets nearly 10 times, -there is almost nothing to eat or drink in the area, -our friends have not been allowed to enter the airport but only in the parking lot, the screens do not work, snowshoes are everywhere and require foreign currency, please take into account these remarks.
Experience At Airport | Arrival and Departure |
Date Visit | November 2017 |
Type Of Traveller | Couple Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Airport Shopping | 12345 |
Wifi Connectivity | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | no |
"Watch out for the Euro coin scammers"
1 reviews L Shaw (United Kingdom)
✅ Verified Review | I passed through this airport 4 times during August and September 2017. Arrived and Departed for flights to Europe (2x) and Internal flights (2x). I agree with everything recently written but add a few additional points. 1) Watch out for the Euro coin scammers. Locals trying to exchange euro coins for notes. They will show you 20 Euros in coins and ask for a note in exchange. They are expert at a sleight of hand confidence trick. You will not get the correct change once they count it out for you. 2) There is a cafe on the first floor of international departures that is open 24x7 and is the only non-airside seating area. Particularly useful if your flight is delayed and are awaiting check in to open. 3) The Duty Free was open until 0100 am for the Air France Paris flight 4) I flew Kenyan Airlines to Nairobi, this was a flight originating in Mozambique or Reunion but assigned seat was not available as the transiting passengers were already stretched out over all seats. It ended up as a free for all for the remaining free seats.
Experience At Airport | Departure Only |
Date Visit | September 2017 |
Type Of Traveller | Solo Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Airport Shopping | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | no |
"makes visiting a trial"
C Nelson (United Kingdom)
✅ Verified Review | Madagascar is a wonderful country but Antananarivo airport is so poor that it really makes visiting a trial. For entry I counted that my passport was checked 6 times from leaving the aircraft until finally getting into our taxi. No idea why, but it took a long time. You must have the entry fee (around 25 euros per person for short stay) in cash (Euros, Dollar and Pounds accepted). If you don't, staff escort you landside to a cash point and bring you back. There are numerous stamps and writing and more queuing, all of which seems totally superfluous. People that look like staff often aren't and are the 'porters'. They are very aggressive - there's no point trying to take your own bag, unless it's strapped to you as they take it and then expect to be paid. It is also very difficult to keep it to just 1 porter, again expecting to be paid. I know it's a poor country, but some regulation of these porters is required, especially coming airside. I suppose overall, the time to clear wasn't that bad as they saved that for the exit. Again, there was the obsession with passport checks - 5 times it was checked, as well as my finger prints being taken - no idea why on exit, but not on entry. That wasn't the worst - our hotel delivered us 2 hours and 30 mins before the departure. We were about half way down the check-in queue. The plane had a capacity of 89 people. Checking-in took 2 hours. The cabin bags had labels too - not required in other locations. Some people seemed to have a check-in form, but we didn't need one. After that, then they said a form had to be filled-in, with lots of totally irrelevant information. Similar to the form on entry with info like where you stayed. The form wasn't available whilst you queued for check-in. Another member of staff then turned up, offering a pen and wanting to be paid - we had no currency left by then. Then there were more checks and the finger print scan. A baggage check until finally getting through to departures. By the time we got through, the plane was already boarding, so I didn't see the departure lounge. In the end the plane was 30 mins late departing due to these delays. Overall a really poor experience, which would be so easy to improve. My recommendation is to keep your bags close (not for security reasons), be very specific what help you need / want and for departures, be there 3 hours in advance.
Experience At Airport | Arrival and Departure |
Date Visit | August 2016 |
Type Of Traveller | Family Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | N/A |
Airport Shopping | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | no |
"functional but could improve"
Arnold DeVries (Canada)
Antananarivo airport is pretty efficient overall however, if you are flying domestically be aware that there is only one shop with nothing other than some packaged snacks and water to buy after you go through security. Nothing landside either. Seats are all wood. International terminal - quickly whisked through the place as I had Sky Priority on Air France. Bit chaotic and had to navigate people who would just take your bags to "help" you along. Just say "non merci". There are shops beyond security to buy and spend your money in the International Terminal. AF Business Lounge was warm but a nice respite from the otherwise warm and wooden benched area to wait for departure. A lot of checking your bags and paperwork in both terminals. No jetways - need to walk up some fairly rickety stairs to the plane. Had toyed with the idea of killing a 15 hour layover there before a 2am AF departure, but was feeling sick so hit a hotel for a rest. Glad I did as it is not a airport to kill that much time. Functional but could improve.
Experience At Airport | Arrival and Departure |
Date Visit | February 2016 |
Type Of Traveller | Solo Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Airport Shopping | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | yes |