Blaise Diagne International Airport

History

The airport was originally expected to be operational at the end of the year 2011, but this date was pushed back by almost a year in September of that year. In September 2012, Senegalese Prime Minister Abdoul Mbaye announced that the airport would open in the first quarter of 2014. In January 2015, word spread that the airport would open in June 2015. On 4 April 2015, Reuters announced a new opening date for early 2016.

The expected building costs rose to 566 million euros, with over 400 million coming from the Saudi Binladin Group.

The airport then was finally opened for scheduled operations on 7 December 2017.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights at Dakar Blaise Diagne Airport: | Air Algérie | Algiers | Air Burkina | Bamako, Ouagadougou | Air Côte d'Ivoire | Abidjan, Bissau | Air France | Paris–Charles de Gaulle | Air Senegal | Abidjan, Bamako, Banjul, Bissau, Brussels, Cap Skirring, Casablanca, Conakry, Cotonou, Freetown, Niamey, Nouakchott, Ouagadougou, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Praia, Sal, Ziguinchor | Air Transat | Seasonal: Montréal–Trudeau (begins 18 June 2026) | ASKY Airlines | Bissau, Lomé, Praia | Binter Canarias | Gran Canaria | Brussels Airlines | Banjul, Brussels | Delta Air Lines | New York–JFK | Emirates | Dubai–International | Ethiopian Airlines | Addis Ababa, Bamako | Iberia | Madrid | ITA Airways | Rome–Fiumicino | Kenya Airways | Abidjan, Nairobi–Jomo Kenyatta | Luxair | Seasonal: Luxembourg | Mauritania Airlines | Abidjan, Bamako, Conakry, Freetown, Nouakchott | Neos | Bergamo, Milan–Malpensa, Rome–Fiumicino Seasonal: Verona | Royal Air Maroc | Casablanca | Smartwings | Seasonal charter: Prague{{cite news|title=Destinations and Airlines | TAP Air Portugal | Lisbon | Transair | Banjul, Bissau, Cap Skirring, Conakry, Freetown, Kolda, Praia, Ziguinchor Charter: Kédougou, Tambacounda | Transavia | Marseille, Seasonal: Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Nice, Toulouse | TUI Airways | Seasonal: London–Gatwick | TUI fly Belgium | Brussels | TUI fly Deutschland | Düsseldorf | TUI fly Netherlands | Seasonal: Amsterdam | Tunisair | Conakry, Tunis | Turkish Airlines | Bissau (begins 21 March 2026), Istanbul | Vueling | Barcelona

Cargo

| Air France Cargo | Paris–Charles de Gaulle | DHL Aviation | Brussels, Casablanca | Air Charter Service | Clermont–Ferrand

Statistics

In 2022, the airport handled 2,629,348 passengers, a 5.53% increase compared to 2019.

Ground transportation

The Train Express Regional Dakar-AIBD is a rail-link between the airport and Dakar. The first phase, linking downtown Dakar and Diamniadio, opened on 14 January 2019. As of January 2023, the rails and station that will serve the airport are under construction.

Accidents and incidents

• On 9 May 2024, a Boeing 737-300 aircraft (registered as 6V-AJE) operated by Transair (Senegal) on behalf of Air Sénégal partially caught fire and was damaged after overrunning the runway during a rejected takeoff for Bamako. Of the 85 people on board, 10 occupants were injured. The aircraft was also written off.

References

References

1. (2 December 2010). "L'aéroport Blaise Diagne sera livré en fin 2011 (ministre)". Seneweb.com.
2. (19 September 2011). "L'Aeroport International Blaise Diagne opérationnel au second semestre de 2012 (ministre)". Seneweb.com.
3. (11 September 2012). "Senegal's second international airport ready in 2014". Panapress.
4. Aidara, Ismael. (19 September 2011). "Sénégal : Saudi Bin Laden sur le tarmac de l'aéroport Blaise Diagne". Seneweb.com.
5. Carley Petesch. "Senegal opens new international airport with economic hopes". AP.
6. "Air Cote d'Ivoire NS25 Bissau Routing Changes".
7. https://flightlevel.be/67854/air-senegal-vanaf-december-tussen-brussel-en-dakar/
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14. "Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ADD".
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16. "Nairobi, Kenya NBO".
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25. (7 May 2024). "Transavia France NW24 New Routes Addition – 05MAY24".
26. (2 June 2022). "TUI Airways Adds London – Dakar Route in Nov 2022".
27. "TUIFly Adds Expands Cabo Verde Flights From Dusseldorf In NW22".
28. . (August 2023). "Amsterdam, Netherlands". *[[OAG (company)*.
29. {{in lang. tr[https://havasosyalmedya.com/thy-bissau-ucuslarini-baslatiyor-ucus-detaylari-belli-oldu/ THY, Bissau Uçuşlarını Başlatıyor / Uçuş Detayları Belli Oldu"]
30. (7 August 2023). "Vueling NS24 Preliminary Frequency Variations – 06AUG23".
31. [https://www.afklcargo.com/GB/en/common/e_services/find_out_where_we_fly.jsp] retrieved 9 June 2024
32. "Flight Information - DHL to/from Casablanca and Brussels".
33. [https://www.magma-aviation.com/en/network/ magmaaviation.com - network] retrieved 9 November 2020
34. "globalairrail.com".
35. (9 May 2024). "Plane skids off runway in Senegal, injuring 10 people". Africanews.
36. Ranter, Harro. "Runway excursion Accident Boeing 737-38J 6V-AJE, Thursday 9 May 2024".