Emirates Marks 15 Years of Operations to Senegal
Emirates is celebrating 15 years of service to Dakar, Senegal. Since its first flight in 2010, the airline has connected passengers and facilitated trade between Senegal and its global network through Dubai.
Emirates launched its operations to Dakar in 2010, offering five weekly flights using the Airbus A340-300. This marked the first scheduled air link between the UAE and Senegal. The new route improved travel options between Senegal, the Middle East, China, and other Asian markets, benefiting traders, businesses, and pilgrims travelling to Mecca for Hajj and Umrah.
In 2016, the service was upgraded to a Boeing 777-300ER, which increased both passenger and cargo capacity to meet growing demand. Over the past 15 years, Emirates has operated a total of 6,065 flights, transporting more than 890,000 passengers to and from Senegal. Key inbound traffic has come from countries such as China, India, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia, while outbound demand connects travellers to destinations including China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand.
Commenting on the milestone, Arpit Behl, Country Manager, Senegal, Emirates said: “Celebrating 15 years of connecting to Senegal reflects the strong ties we have built with our customers, and partners, and our longstanding investment in this important market. Since our very first flight, we have delivered on our promise to enhance connectivity with the globe and provide travellers with a world-class inflight experience. We are proud to have played a key part in Senegal’s evolving aviation, tourism and trade sectors, and will continue our journey with new and exciting developments for years to come.”
Emirates currently employs more than 50 Senegalese nationals across various roles, including cabin crew, pilots, and sales teams.
Emirates A380 Captain, Oumar Ba said, “As a proud Senegalese national, and Airbus A380 Captain for the world’s largest international airline, it’s a pleasure to see Emirates celebrating 15 years of operations to Dakar. I’ve been flying with Emirates for almost 10 years, travelling all over the world – one day, I hope to have the honour of flying the iconic Emirates A380 into Senegal!”
Senegal and the UAE are strengthening their bilateral and economic relations, with support from Emirates SkyCargo. Over the past five years, the airline has transported over 18,200 tonnes of goods in and out of Dakar. Notable exports from Senegal include seafood such as grouper, seabream, and red mullet to Europe, lobster to East Asia, and seasonal produce like beans, melons, and mangoes to the UAE. Imports from the UAE, Hong Kong, and India consist of mobile phones, textiles, electronics, and pharmaceuticals.
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