Air Senegal Adds European Destinations, Reduces African Network – AirlineGeeks.com

Air Senegal Adds European Destinations, Reduces African Network

Beginning March 28, Senegal’s flag carrier, Air Senegal, will commence flights from Dakar to Lyon operating three times weekly using the Airbus A321. The airline’s point-to-point demand in this route totaled 40,000 in 2019.

Outbound flights to Lyon will be operated with a stopover in Marseille. The flight will complete the 255 kilometer flight to Lyon before returning to the Senegalese capital. so the route will be Dakar – Marseille – Lyon – Dakar.

Flights to Marseille, when originally launched in December 2019, were operated with an Airbus A330-900neo with a stop in Barcelona. Flights to Marseille and Barcelona eventually operated on a standalone basis, which looks to eventually be the deal with Lyon flights once additional aircraft arrive in Air Senegal’s fleet and when demand picks up.

Air Senegal also announced thrice-weekly flights to Italy’s Milan Malpensa starting on Feb 17. These services will be operated with an Airbus A321 as well. These planes’ cabins will feature a seating configuration of 165 seats, including 16 in business class with lie-flat seats and 149 economy class seats.

Air Senegal’s Milan flights will fill a significant void left by Air Italy. The city pair totaled 117,000 passengers in 2019.

The new flights are already available for sale on the Global Distribution System (GDS) with fares filed for all Air Senegal existing destinations which connect both ways via Dakar.

This schedule will offer convenient two-way connectivity via Dakar to Abijan (ABJ), Bamako (BKO), Conakry (CKY), Banjul (BJL), Ziguinchor (ZIG) and Nouakchott (NKC).

Air Senegal offers a unique welcoming experience, Teranga, as well as legendary Senegalese hospitality and cuisine onboard and attractive fares in both economy and business classes published for sale.

Passengers will be able to enjoy free 2‐piece baggage allowance (up to46KG) for all Air Senegal destinations to and from Milan, and they will also have a chance to take advantage of the airline’s newly launched Frequent Flier Program.

Air Senegal’s African network has significantly shrunk in size with the likes of Abuja, Accra, Bissau, Lagos, Niamey, and Ouagadougou no longer on the airline’s service list.

This means overall connectivity to and from Europe has reduced, which in turn has cut potential connecting demand.

Nonetheless, with superb coordination, two-way connectivity is available through Dakar to Abidjan, Bamako, Conakry, Banjul, Nouakchott, and Ziggachoir.

Air Senegal aims to be a leader in West African air transport by relying on the regional hub at Blaise Diagne International Airport in Ndiass with a mission to serve both domestic and international lines. Air Senegal is a dynamic company steeped in Senegalese culture and the Teranga Spirit. The carrier’s main concerns are security, reliability and quality of reception.

An international airline, Air Senegal has a fleet of six aircraft, including the recently-delivered Airbus A321 that joined Air Senegal’s existing narrowbody fleet of two A319-100s and two ATR72-600s. The carrier also operates one A330-900, and although it owns the aircraft, it wet-leases a further A330-900 from Hi-Fly Malta, according to CH-Aviation.

Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Victor’s love for aviation goes way back to when he was 11-years-old. Living close to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, he developed a love for planes and he even recalls aspiring to be a future airline executive for Kenya Airways. He also has a passion in the arts and loves writing and had his own aviation blog prior to joining AirlineGeeks.

He is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration at DeKUT and aspiring to make a career in a more aviation-related course.

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