Blaise Diagne International Airport
Airport serving Dakar, Senegal
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Blaise Diagne International Airport (French: Aéroport international Blaise-Diagne), (IATA: DSS, ICAO: GOBD) is an international airport near the town of Diass in Thiès Region, Senegal, 43 km (27 mi) east of downtown Dakar. It serves as the main airport for Dakar, replacing Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport, which had become too small. It is named after Blaise Diagne, the first black African elected to France's parliament in 1914. Regular flights are operated to destinations across many parts of Africa, as well as to Europe, Macaronesia, the Middle East, the United States, and soon Canada.
Blaise Diagne International Airport Aéroport international Blaise-Diagne | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Owner | Government of Senegal | ||||||||||
| Operator | Summa-Limak | ||||||||||
| Serves | Dakar | ||||||||||
| Location | Ndiass, Thiès Region, Senegal | ||||||||||
| Opened | 7 December 2017 | ||||||||||
| Hub for | |||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 289.59 ft / 88.27 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 14°40′16″N 17°4′1″W | ||||||||||
| Website | www | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  DSS/GOBD Location of airport in Senegal | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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History
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The airport was originally expected to be operational at the end of the year 2011,[1] but this date was pushed back by almost a year in September of that year.[2] In September 2012, Senegalese Prime Minister Abdoul Mbaye announced that the airport would open in the first quarter of 2014.[3] 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,[2] with over 400 million coming from the Saudi Binladin Group.[4]
The airport then was finally opened for scheduled operations on 7 December 2017.[5]
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights at Dakar Blaise Diagne Airport:
Cargo
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Air France Cargo[32] | Paris–Charles de Gaulle |
| DHL Aviation[33] | Brussels, Casablanca |
| Air Charter Service[34] | Clermont–Ferrand |
Statistics
In 2022, the airport handled 2,629,348 passengers, a 5.53% increase compared to 2019.[citation needed]
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.[35] 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.[36] The aircraft was also written off.[37]
