State owned carrier Air Senegal has announced plans to launch US flights later this year.
This page on the airline’s website states that twice weekly flights will launch on September 2, with a nonstop service from Dakar’s Blaise Diagne International airport to New York JFK, from where the flight will connect onto Washington Dulles.
The return service will route Washington Dulles-New York JFK-Dakar (rather than being a triangular route).
Air Senegal will be the only African carrier to offer direct flights between Senegal and the US – Delta flies between New York JFK and Dakar.
The airline said that the new service would also offer connections to and from destinations including Ziguinchor, Cap Skirring, Banjul, Conakry, Praia, Abidjan, Nouakchott, Bamako Cotonou, Douala, Libreville and Casablanca.
Flights will be operated by an Airbus A330 neo, configured with 32 seats in business class, 21 in premium economy and 237 in economy. The aircraft will offer inflight wifi, and passengers will benefit from a 46kg (two pieces) baggage allowance.
Commenting on the news Ibrahima Kane, managing director of Air Senegal, said:
“It is with great pleasure that we announce a new year-round link between Senegal and the United States of America, which is part of the strategic expansion of our intercontinental network.
“In addition, the United States remains a high priority market for our diaspora, which is well represented in the area. With this flight, Air Senegal will make the USA even more accessible, and therefore better connectivity will strengthen the solid economic and socio-cultural ties between the USA and Senegal”.
In February 2020 Air Senegal announced a new route between Dakar and London Stansted. The service had been due to start in June 2020, but was postponed due to Covid-19, and has yet to launch.
