Sections
DONATE
SUPPORT WWW.JOLLOFNEWS.COM
Account Login
Senegal seeks to consolidate hold on air transportation
Tuesday, 15 February 2011 02:17
JollofNews - Senegal is working on strengthening its hold on the air transportation industry amid intensified diplomatic
wrangling with Belgium over a ban on Brussels Airlines flight into Banjul and two other West African capitals via Dakar.The newly launched Senegal Airlines is reported to be in talks with aircraft manufacturer Airbus to buy around half a dozen aircraft including two A330
long-haul jets.This followed an earlier stalled agreement announced in 2009 for the purchase of six aircraft worth USD$750 million for the successor airlines of the defunct Air Senegal International.
"We went initially with leased planes and at the same time we are still in negotiations with Airbus to improve the terms and we are hopeful a good conclusion can be reached in the coming weeks and months," Senegal Airlines Chief Executive Edgardo Badiali said, according to Reuters.
The newly unveiled Senegalese air carrier began operations last month with two leased Airbus. It has however been the expressed desire of both President Abdoulaye Wade and his son, air transportation minister Karim Wade, to take the company to a higher level.
“After the construction of the Blaise Diagne International Airport (about 50 km south-east of Dakar), which will meet international standards, we will launch a project to make airplanes in Senegal,” President Wade said at a ceremony organized for the delivery of the first
two aircrafts of the new airlines, in January."Of course, we will not make large airplanes like Boeing or Airbus, but small ones", the president, urging his Prime Minister and Air Transport Minister to launch the feasibility studies for the project immediately.
Karim Wade, on the same occasion, announced the setting up of an aircraft maintenance centre, designed to fit into the construction of the Blaise Diagne International Airport, described as one of the biggest and more sophisticated in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Karim said the centre was part of plans to have Senegal regain its status as an air transport hub in the sub-region and in Africa in general.
“We want Senegal’s air platform to be a carrier of national economic development,” he stated, adding: “The ambition of Senegal Airlines is to win back the market shares lost by the defunct Air Senegal International, which accounted for 25 per cent of the air transport sector in West Africa.”
But amid this ambitious plan, the Senegalese government is locked up in a conflict with the Belgian authorities over a controversial decision banning Belgian based Brussels Airlines from flying out of Dakar into three West African capitals including Banjul.
Brussels threatened to recall its ambassador from Dakar over the matter.
But Senegalese Air Transport Minister Karim Wade insisted Monday that his country did not renege on any accord with Belgium over access to its airport as there was no agreement signed to that effect, according to the Senegalese Press Agency (APS).
Beyond the Brussels brow, Senegal’s transportation industry remains tainted by the legacy of the defunct Senegal International Airlines, whose former workers remain agitated over outstanding payment.
Written by Kemo Cham
Jollofnews Poll
Who do you think should be the next President of The Gambia?
Follow us on Twitter
-
Anti-cuts protest at Clegg's homeHundreds of anti-cuts protesters gather outside Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's home in south-west London.
-
Egypt candidate to seek election suspension: lawyerCAIRO (Reuters) - Leftist candidate Hamdeen Sabahy will file an appeal for Egypt's presidential election...
-
Bristol Rovers Speed Merchant Could Be Racing To Posh(GamSports) – Peterborough United are thought to be one of a number of Championship sides...
Comments
RSS feed for comments to this post.