Blaise Diagne International Airport
The Planes of West Africa
PROJECT DIRECTED BY WRITTEN BY
Gary Smith
Laura Watling
Blaise Diagne
Theairport, which launched in 2016, replaced the Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport, as demand had outgrown the airport’s size. This airport now caters to international freight and charter.
Initially scheduled to take 30 months to build, the construction phase was a decade in the making. This was due to a financial dispute between the construction contractor, Saudi Binladin Group and the Senegalese government.
The initial operation contract was won by German transport company, Fraport, in collaboration with an international consortium. However, due to the construction hold up, the agreement was withdrawn.
A new partnership between Turkish construction firms Limak and Summa saw the completion of building works, as a subcontractor of the Saudi Binladen Group. The businesses also agreed to a 25-year operation contract. Also involved in the project was design firm Dar Al-Handasah Turner-CDE, who were selected alongside the Saudi Binladen Group to design and build the airport facility. Areen Design, of the UK, were brought on board for interior design.
DP World won a contract to build a logisticsfree zone at the airport whilst Burns & McDonnell were appointed to implement IT infrastructure.
The international airport boasts a 42,000 m2 passenger terminal with six gates. Further to that, it offers a 12,800m2 cargo terminal which can handle 50,000 tonnes of freight. It was designed for an initial capacity of 3 million passengers a year – almost double the 1.7 million annual traffic handled by Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport. It is the aim that by 2035, the airport will extend its capacity to 10 million passengers per year. To accommodate, a second passenger terminal and runway is planned.
Business Enquirer Magazine · Issue 106 3
For those travelling to and from Senegal, the Blaise Diagne International Airport is now the country’s main hub for worldwide travel.
Blaise Diagne
Blaise Diagne International Airport is the result of 10 years of development and an estimated €566 million investment.
Location, Location, Location
Senegal, which has an estimated population of 17.5 million (2022), is situated in West Africa.
Not only does the country have one of the most developed tourism industries in the continent, it also has much to offer in terms of business. Key industries include mining, construction and banking. This makes the airport a fantastic hub.
Based in Diass, a town 43 kilometres east of the country’s capital, Dakar, the airport has plenty of travel links. This includes the Train Express Regional, taking travellers directly to the capital.
Flights from the airport are available to many popular international destinations, including Dubai, New York, Milan and Lisbon. World renowned airlines including Tui, Turkish Airlines and Airfrance all operate from Blaise Diagne International Airport.
4 Issue 106 · Business Enquirer Magazine
Blaise Diagne
An Odyssey
As you would expect with an international airport of such investment, it has much to offer its visitors. Coffee shops, bars and duty free can all be found at the airport, with the latter being provided by Lagardère Travel Retail.
The main attraction, however, is the three VIP lounges - The Odysee Lounge, Salon Infinite and Top Kapi Lounge.
The Odysee Lounge has been designed with business travellers in mind. Workstations, computers, scanners and printers can all be found here. To offer a bit of balance, loungegoers also have access to refreshments and massage chairs. Needed for modern travel, there is free wifi available.
What’s in a name?
Senegal’s international airport is named after the country’s historical political figure of the same name.
Blaise Diagne (1872-1934) was the first person of West African origin to be elected into the French Chamber of Deputies.
Diagne was elected to the Chamber of Deputies of France in 1914 as the representative for the Four Communes - the four oldest colonial towns in French West Africa: Dakar, Gorée, Saint-Louis and Rufisque.
The political pioneer’s legacy includes the approval of a law granting full citizenship to all residents of the Four Communes.
Blaise Diagne International Airport
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