Air Senegal is cutting service between Dakar and JFK—currently the longest route in its network.
Air Senegal is making significant changes to its network, confirming the suspension of flights to seven international destinations later this month.
The West African carrier will cease operations to New York John F. Kennedy (JFK) on Sept. 19, followed by Milan Malpensa; Libreville, Gabon; Douala, Cameroon; and Barcelona, Spain, on Sept. 20. Additionally, flights to Marseille and Lyon, both in France, will end on Sept. 22.
The decision comes as part of a broader strategic review by the airline, which has been facing operational challenges and struggling to maintain profitability on certain long-haul and regional routes. In a brief statement, the carrier says the cuts will allow it to “optimize its network” and better serve passengers.
The move means that the airline will no longer serve Cameroon, Gabon, Italy, Spain or the U.S. However, the French market will continue to be served through the carrier’s existing nonstop flights to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Air Senegal is a successor to Senegal Airlines, which served as the country’s flag carrier between 2011 and 2016. It launched operations in May 2018 and has eight aircraft in service, according to CAPA – Centre for Aviation data, comprising two Airbus A319s, one A321, one A330-900, two ATR 72-600s and two Let L-410s.
Clocking in at 3,825 mi. (3,324 nm), the airline’s service between Dakar Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS) and New York JFK is the farthest route in its network and its only U.S. connection. The airline launched the route in September 2021, initially offering flights from DSS to JFK that continued on to Baltimore Washington International Airport.
According to OAG Schedules Analyser data, Air Senegal operates the DSS-JFK route twice a week. The airline’s withdrawal from this market will leave Delta Air Lines’ 3X-weekly DSS-JFK flights as the only nonstop service between Senegal and the U.S.
During the week commencing Sept. 2, Air Senegal is operating 28 nonstop routes and 25,700 weekly seats. The airline is the largest operator from and within Senegal with a 25.3% capacity share of the market, ahead of Ethiopian Airlines on 9.3% and Brussels Airlines on 8.2%.
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