Antananarivo Ivato Airport - Spotting Guide

Antananarivo Ivato Airport – Spotting Guide

August 22, 2024 - last modified on September 3, 2024

Antananarivo Ivato Airport (TNR/FMMI) is the main airport to the island and country of Madagascar handling about 1 million passenger a year. The airport is located roughly 10km northwest of the centre of Antananarivo in the village of Ivato and about 1200m above sealevel. The airport is home to the local carrier Tsaradia with its ATR72s serving the domestic routes. Apart from that, TNR is approached by various foreign airlines connecting Madagascar with the rest of the world: like Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Port Louis or Paris.

Written by Martin Le Penven. Last Update: Summer 2021

General Information
Terminal	There is one terminal handling all flights.
Runway	11/29 with 3100m lenght
Security	Be aware that Madagascar is one of the poorest countries worldwide! Try to stow your camera as long as possible, do not hang around with expensive equipment! Stay in your car as long as possible and only get out with the cam for the pictures. Spotting in generally is not common in Madagascar at all. So stow your camera once security personnel is around as well!

	Dirt hill – 11/29 Movements
WHERE	This spot is located at the northwestern end of the airfield on a sort of market/trash dump. The position is located on a hill thus the area is a bit elevated here allowing nice views onto the runway. However, this area is hard to reach unless you have a car. We also do recommend coming here in a 4×4 car as you will have to climb sort of a hill to this spot and you will be able to sit safely while waiting for the next movement. The position marked above is a rough idea where you can stand, but as you see in the example pictures, you can also move around here a bit variing your angle for different views.

WHAT	From here you will basically see all runway 11/29 movements.

TIME	Best in the afternoon/evening hours.

MISC.	Heat haze can be a problem on hot days. Nothing around here like toilets or shops. Be careful of wild insects and animals. Also be aware that Madagascar is a very poor country: so be careful with expensive equipment!

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm B77W = 120mm