Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, is commemorating 15 successful years of flying to Dakar, Senegal. Since its inaugural flight in 2010, Emirates has been instrumental in connecting passengers and facilitating trade from Senegal through its extensive global network via Dubai.

Emirates first launched services to Dakar in 2010 with an Airbus A340-300, offering five weekly flights. This established the first scheduled air link between the UAE and Senegal, significantly enhancing travel ease between Senegal and Asian markets, benefiting both traders and the general public. Additionally, the route has been vital for pilgrims traveling to Mecca for Hajj and Umrah.

In 2016, the operation was upgraded to a Boeing 777-300ER, increasing the capacity in response to rising demand. In total, over the last 15 years, Emirates has conducted 6,065 flights, transporting over 890,290 passengers, facilitating significant inbound traffic from cities such as Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing in China, as well as Delhi and Bombay in India.

Arpit Behl, Country Manager for Emirates in Senegal, highlighted the importance of this milestone by stating: “Celebrating 15 years of connecting to Senegal reflects the strong ties we have built with our customers, partners, and our longstanding investment in this important market. We have consistently fulfilled our promise to enhance global connectivity and offer travelers a premier inflight experience.”

Senegal is referred to as the Land of Teraanga, with values of hospitality and kindness being central to its culture—qualities that are mirrored in Emirates’ diverse cabin crew. Currently, over 50 individuals from Senegal are employed by Emirates in various roles, including pilots and sales agents, allowing the airline to invest in local talent.

Additionally, Emirates A380 Captain, Oumar Ba, shared his pride, saying: “As a proud Senegalese national and Airbus A380 Captain, it’s thrilling to witness Emirates commemorating 15 years of operations to Dakar. I look forward to the day I fly the iconic Emirates A380 into Senegal!”

Emirates SkyCargo has significantly contributed to global trade with Senegal by transporting over 18,200 tonnes of goods in the last five years. The airline supports the export of notable Senegalese seafood to international markets, including grouper and lobster, while importing essential commodities such as mobile phones and textiles from the UAE and other countries.