Cheap flights from London to Antananarivo

November is the cheapest month for this route in the fare data, and it sits at the end of Madagascar's dry season, before the heavier rains. The months covered by the price calendar run from September through July, so you can watch how fares move across the southern summer and the European winter. Midweek departures, especially Tuesday and Wednesday, tend to cost less than Friday and Sunday flights. Avoid the UK school holidays and the weeks around Christmas and New Year, when long-haul fares climb. Booking a few months ahead usually beats leaving it to the last minute, and a flexible date view helps when one day is much pricier than its neighbours.

No airline flies London to Antananarivo non-stop, so every option is a connecting itinerary, and the carriers here are full-service rather than budget. Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines are the African names on the route; Air France, KLM Cityhopper, Swiss, Austrian, Turkish Airlines, German Airways, Helvetic Airways and Saudi Arabian Airlines connect through their own hubs. Baggage, seat choice and meals depend on the fare family, so compare what is included rather than the headline fare alone. Check whether the legs are one ticket or stitched together, since that decides who rebooks you after a delay.

Antananarivo has a single international airport, and it sits outside the city rather than in it, so the transfer is a road journey through the outskirts. Taxis are the usual way in, and hotel shuttles or pre-booked transfers are worth arranging before you land, particularly if you arrive after dark. Agree the fare before you get in, carry cash in the local currency, and expect the drive to take longer in the morning and evening rush. If your connection lands late, consider a night near the airport and move into the centre the next day. Keep your onward booking details handy, since drivers and shuttle desks often ask for them.

Currency

MGA (Ar)

Power sockets

Type C, E, G, J, K · 127 V

Language

Malagasy, French

Emergency number

117, 118, 124

Driving side

right

Calling code

+261

Internet domain

.mg

Population of Antananarivo

1.3 M (2018)

Time zone

UTC+03 (Indian/Antananarivo)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check which London airport your fare leaves from, since Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and London City are not interchangeable on a long-haul connection.
• Confirm the baggage allowance on every leg, because a light fare on a connecting itinerary may charge for a checked bag.
• Make sure both legs sit on one ticket, or leave a generous buffer if you booked them separately.
• Check Madagascar entry rules and your passport validity well before departure.
• Book early for November, the cheapest month, and compare nearby dates before you commit.