Senegal opens new $600m airport built over 10 years

Senegal has a new airport as the west African country seeks to underline its status as an airline hub in the subregion.

The Blaise Diagne International Airport was officially opened on Thursday (December 7) by President Macky Sall. He called it a “source of satisfaction and legitimate pride” for the country.

Whiles expected to increase air traffic to the country, the authorities are also hoping it will translate in increased tourism and by that an economic boost.

.Macky_Sall : “Je suis heureux de déclarer l’Aéroport international Blaise Diagne officiellement ouvert.” #OuvertureAIBD7Decembre2017 pic.twitter.com/DZXnsR5Zdi

— Présidence Sénégal (PR_Senegal) December 7, 2017

Here are a few facts about the facility.

1. Construction of the airport started in 2007. Therefore it took a decade to complete the project.

2. The cost of the project is put at $600m. It was started by a Saudi firm but later completed by a Turkish firm after a dispute with the Saudis.

The financing is said to have come from the African Development Bank, the French Development Agency, the West African Development Bank, and other banks from South Africa, Canada and Saudi Arabia.

3. It is located in the town of Diass, located some 29 miles from the Senegalese capital of Dakar.

4. It has a capacity for three million passengers per year as compared to the current travel traffic of 1.9 million passengers per annum.

5. The Blaise Diagne International Airport is named after the first African to be elected a lawmaker in France, as far back as 1914.

Some African presidents who joined the Senegalese people at the opening were: Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon; The Gambia’s Adama Barrow, Jose Mario Vaz of Guinea Bissau.