Air Sénégal intends to operate flights into the US
Air Senegal plans to launch its scheduled services to the United States from September 1, on the basis of a wet-lease contract or a codeshare agreement with an American company.
A request, in this sense, was submitted on February 11, 2021 to the US Department of Transport, by its advisers Eckert Seamans and Evelyn Sahr.
"None of the Air Senegal aircraft will be used to provide the service envisaged in this operation," said the document, consulted by our editorial staff. "Air Senegal is currently in talks with the United States and foreign carriers regarding codeshare, interline and crewed rental agreements," the same source continues. On these transpacific flights, Air Senegal is eyeing New York and Washington in particular. The company “estimates that around 42,224 passengers will be carried during the first year of service.”
Pending a response from the US authorities, Air Senegal is continuing to develop its international network. As part of the densification of its services outside Africa, the company will launch on February 17, its corridor to Milan in Italy (3 weekly flights). From March 28, the carrier will add Lyon. 3 flights per week will be offered following the Dakar – Marseille - Lyon - Dakar route. In France, Air Senegal also serves Paris.
Before the health crisis, the company planned to connect London (Great Britain) and Geneva (Switzerland) in June 2020. This is still not the case to date. Note that from February 16, Air Senegal will reopen its Dakar - Casablanca route, suspended in March 2020, because of the Covid-19 pandemic. But unlike before, it will now be linked to the Dakar - Barcelona route. Thus, the Dakar - Casablanca - Barcelona rotation will be operated 3 times a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays).
