Air Sénégal (HC, Dakar Blaise Diagne International) has ordered two ATR72-600s from ATR - Avions de Transport Régional (EVX, Toulouse Blagnac) as it prepares to commence operations later this year.
The Senegalese Minister for Tourism and Air Transport, Maimouna Ndoye Seck, said in a statement during the 2017 Paris Airshow the aircraft would arrive in November in time for Air Senegal's inaugural flight, slated for December 7.
As previously reported, the date will coincide with the opening of Dakar's new Blaise Diagne International Airport.
“Since the liquidation of Senegal Airlines, domestic air services have been disrupted within the country,” Mamadou Lamine Sow, Chief Executive Officer of Air Senegal SA, said. “Our ambition is for this new airline to play a major role in Senegal, and in all of West Africa. After a year of assessment, conducted by a team of experts assisted by a consulting firm, and on the basis of the airline’s business plan, the choice of the initial fleet focused on the ATR 72-600s.”
As part of its development, Air Senegal SA next plans to acquire narrowbody jets, followed by widebodies which will enable it to operate the Dakar Yoff-Léopold Sédar Senghor International-Paris trunk route.
