Senegal's Blaise Diagne International Airport aims to be a West African airfreight hub through a partnership between Air Senegal and Air France.
Senegal is positioning Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD) as a West African airfreight hub through a strategic partnership between Air Senegal and Air France, reported London's Air Cargo Week.
The partnership aims to pool cargo capacity, combining Air France's global reach with Air Senegal's regional distribution network covering Mali, Guinea, and Mauritania. Officials stated that established customs frameworks, including Senegal's temporary import regime and Mali's deposit manifest system, will facilitate smooth transit.
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye met with Air France CEO Anne Rigail in February to formalize Dakar's hub ambitions. The plan focuses on air freight, driven by rising e-commerce and demand for fresh produce such as horticulture and seafood.
Freight agent Rougui Sy explained that goods transiting Senegal to Mali are exempt from duties under temporary import rules, provided authorization is obtained and deadlines are respected. On the Malian side, shipments move under deposit manifests with taxes suspended until final clearance.
Connectivity remains critical. AIBD, located 50 km from Dakar, is linked to toll highways for rapid road distribution. However, air-to-ground transfers remain a challenge, requiring precise coordination of aircraft arrivals, trucks, and ground handling.
Regional competition is strong, with Casablanca, Addis Ababa, and Abidjan also vying for hub status. Casablanca benefits from Royal Air Maroc's long-established network, Addis Ababa from Ethiopian Airlines' dense intra-African traffic, and Abidjan from modernization and Air Cote d'Ivoire's regional growth.
AIBD handled 2.94 million passengers in 2024, up 12 percent from 2022, and is expanding infrastructure to meet its 2035 ambitions. A new cargo terminal capable of handling 80,000 tonnes annually will be built starting in 2026, doubling current capacity by 2028.
