Emirates on Monday announced the launch of flights to Senegal, making it the airline’s 106th worldwide destination. Dakar, Senegal, is Emirates third African destination, the other two being Durban and Luanda that were launched in 2009.
The service to Senegal will start from September 1 this year with five flights a week. Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group said: “It is a significant next step in further strengthening ties between the United Arab Emirates and Senegal, as the two nations continue to collaborate on many significant projects.”
Dubai and Senegal have had non-oil trade relations for many years with figures going up from $61.9m per year in 2005 to $130.2m per year in 2008. Meanwhile, the Jebel Ali Free Zone is being developed as a special economic free zone connected to Senegal’s new not-yet-finished Blaise Diagne Airport.