Senegal

Africa

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Aviation History

Senegal was a founding member of the multinational Air Afrique consortium in 1961, and Dakar's Léopold Sédar Senghor Airport served for decades as a major West African gateway. After Air Afrique's 2002 collapse and the later liquidation of successor carrier Senegal Airlines, the government launched the current flag carrier Air Senegal in 2016, which began flights in 2018. In 2017 Dakar's air gateway shifted to the newly built Blaise Diagne International Airport.

Blaise Diagne International Airport is named after the first Black African elected to the French National Assembly, born in Senegal.
1961
Senegal joins Air Afrique

Senegal was among the founding member states of Air Afrique, the pan-African airline jointly created with Air France and UAT under the Treaty of Yaoundé.

2002
Air Afrique collapses

The pan-regional carrier was declared bankrupt, ending an era of shared francophone West African air service based partly out of Dakar.

2011
Senegal Airlines launched

Senegal Airlines was established as a successor flag carrier after Air Sénégal International's earlier difficulties, but it struggled financially and was later liquidated.

2016
Air Senegal created

The Senegalese government created a new national flag carrier, Air Senegal, to replace the liquidated Senegal Airlines.

2017
Blaise Diagne International Airport opens

A new international airport south of Dakar opened, replacing the aging Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport as the country's main air gateway.

2018
Air Senegal begins operations

Air Senegal launched domestic flights with ATR 72-600 aircraft after receiving its Air Operator's Certificate.

2019
Long-haul expansion to Paris

Air Senegal took delivery of its first Airbus A330-900 and launched long-haul service from Dakar to Paris.

Notable Carriers

Air Senegal · Air Afrique (historical) · Senegal Airlines (defunct)

Wikipedia, Simple Flying, airport and airline corporate history

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