A new terminal building was opened at the Ivato international airport in Antananarivo, the capital city of Madagascar, in December 2021. The terminal was built under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. It handles all regional and international flights to and from the airport.
The new terminal is expected to strengthen the tourism potential of Madagascar. It will increase the frequency of weekly services to/from the airport.
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The project so far generated more than 1,000 direct and indirect local jobs, and is estimated to generate more than 300 new jobs.
Located 20km north-west of the city centre, the Antananarivo international airport is the main hub for Air Madagascar, the national flag carrier of Madagascar. It serves more than ten airlines, and offers direct connectivity to many countries including Kenya, Turkey, and France.
The airport served one million passengers for the first time in 2019.
Concession agreement
Ravinala Airports, a consortium of Aeroports de Paris Management (ADPM), Bouygues Bâtiment International, Colas Madagascar, and Meridiam, is the airport concessionaire. It has been operating the Ivato airport and the Fascene international airport, on the island of Nosy Be, since 2016.
The consortium is responsible for the financing, design, and construction of the new passenger terminal, and operation of the Ivato airport under the 28-year concession agreement.
Bouygues Bâtiment International and Colas Madagascar established a joint venture (JV) for the design and construction work at both airports, as part of the project. ADPM is responsible for the operation and maintenance of both the airports.
A new concession agreement was signed between the consortium members and the Madagascar government in December 2021. The amendments to the concession contract are expected to increase the financial benefits to the government to approximately €400m ($453.5m) over the concession period.
Ivato international airport’s new terminal details
The new 17,500m² (188,368ft²) terminal will expand the airport’s passenger handling capacity to more than 1.5 million passengers a year. It will allow the airport to meet international standards.
Developed with an estimated investment of more than €200m ($226.7m), it features several new counters, which reduce waiting time for the passengers.
Additionally, the new international terminal was awarded health accreditation by the Airport Council International (ACI).
Operational readiness airport transfer (ORAT) processes were executed before the opening of the terminal. A test involving 450 volunteers was conducted at the airport in January 2020, covering different areas of the terminal such as boarding, disembarking, footbridges, parking, and tarmac.
Ivato Airport operational control centre
The new international terminal at the Ivato airport features an airport operational control centre (AOCC).
The 60m² control centre, which is installed with the latest equipment, is functional round-the-clock, seven days a week. It is equipped with four control and supervision stations.
AOCC is responsible for operational co-ordination through remote access control, supervision, and surveillance.
The centre controls flight schedule screens, allocates resources for aircraft and gateways, and manages check-in counters. It also manages fire safety connected to the ASECNA fire station.
A centralised alarm feedback system has been installed to ensure a quick response in case of a breakdown or problem at the terminal.
Funding for the Ivato International Airport
Financing for the development and renovation programme at the two airports to bring them to the required standards was finalised in June 2017.
The project secured a loan worth €130m ($145.48m) from a consortium of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group, Development Bank of Southern Africa, Proparco, Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund, and OPEC Fund for International Development. A portion of the funding comes from the shareholders of Ravinala Airports.
Contractors involved
Mott MacDonald, a consultancy services firm based in the UK, provided technical, commercial and environmental, health and safety, and social due diligence during the funding phase of the project. It assisted in the development of a capital investment plan, and was also responsible for monitoring the construction on an ongoing basis.
ADP Ingénierie, a subsidiary of Aéroports de Paris Group, worked on the design of the new terminal at the Antananarivo airport.
Imat Mobiliario Y Diseno, a Spanish company, supplied seats for the waiting areas of the new terminal.
ALSTEF, an automated solutions provider, was contracted to supply the baggage handling system for the new terminal.
Other developments at Ivato and Fascene international airports
Other development plans at the Ivato airport include the upgrade of the existing terminal to completely dedicate it to domestic traffic, and renovation of the runway and tarmac at the terminal.
Activities also include works to enhance the technical and environmental standards of the airport.
The concession agreement also covers the refurbishment of the runway and the existing terminal at the Fascene airport, in Nosy Be.
