Air Sénégal (HC, Dakar Blaise Diagne International) has signalled its intention to exit the large turboprop market, having exclusively mandated Blueberry Aviation to sell its two ATR72-600s with immediate availability.
6V-AMS (msn 1447) and 6V-ASN (msn 1452) are both 2017 models, and both have been operated by the Senegalese flag carrier since new. The former was retired from revenue service at the end of November 2023 and has been parked for maintenance at Ben Slimane in Morocco since December 1, 2023. The latter remains active, flying scheduled regional services out of Dakar Blaise Diagne International, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows.
The airline did not respond to ch-aviation's request for comment, including the date of the planned retirement of 6V-ASN.
The two ATR - Avions de Transport Régional turboprops are the only two aircraft in this market group ever operated by Air Sénégal. The state-owned airline's fleet otherwise comprises one inactive A220-300, two A319-100s, two A321-200s, and one A330-900, as well as one A330-200 and one A340-300 wet-leased from Hi Fly Malta, and one B737-500 wet-leased from Transair (Senegal). The airline has a commitment for five more A220-300s from Macquarie AirFinance, although last year it was reported to have swapped them for A321-200neo. Air Sénégal was openly criticising the poor reliability of Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engines on the A220-300s.
The carrier is also reportedly getting smaller Let 410s to serve the domestic market, although details remain unclear. The domestic market in Senegal is currently limited to two routes: Dakar Blaise Diagne-Cap Skirring (served by Air Sénégal and Transair), and Dakar Yoff-Léopold Sédar Senghor International-St. Louis Ousmane Masseck Ndiaye (served by the flag carrier only).
