Senegal Airlines introduces The African Elegance'

Senegal Airlines Saturday introduced its products and services to the Gambian market at a press conference held at the Sheraton Hotel in Brufut.

A partnership between the Senegalese state and the national private sector, Senegal Airlines is now serving the route Banjul-Dakar four times weekly.

The weekend gathering at Sheraton brought together travel agents, travel experts, professionals and officials from the transport and travel industry.

Speaking at the press conference, Christopher Leloup, Chief Commercial Officer of Senegal Airlines, told journalists that Senegal Airlines is now serving the route Banjul-Dakar four times weekly, connecting The Gambia to Senegal and improving travel connections to the region and the world with excellent schedules allowing customers to enjoy non-stop services and appropriate flying times.

According to him, Senegal Airlines will introduce competitive pricing illustrated by a special offer at US$60 round trip Banjul-Dakar excluding taxes.

"The fare is valid for travel from the 9th of April until the 31st of July 2011," Leloup said, adding that tickets are to be purchased before May 9th 2011 at Senegal Airlines Ticket Office or any travel agency.

He revealed that the company started its activities on January 25th 2011 with two Airbus A320 of two classes, Business and Economy, adding that a project of the fleet enrichment is planned in order to open new regional and international intercontinental routes.

Leloup told journalists that after the collapse of Air Senegal International, the Senegalese authorities had in mind to fill the gap, especially to re-conquer its market shares estimated at 25 percent of the traffic in the airline space, and to give new opportunities to the ex-employees of the deceased company.

"A new company is born, able to bring significant advantages to West African transport, and in a general way to the whole continent," he said, noting that Group Air Senegal was created in order to replace Air Senegal International.

Laloup further stated that the idea of making Dakar an airport hub in Western Africa is part of the ideas which led to the creation of Senegal Airlines, particularly with the new airport in Diass through better logistics platforms.

Based in Dakar, Senegal Airlines proposes to have non-stop flights towards Bamako, Banjul, Bissau, Conakry, Niamey, Ouagadougou and Nouakchott.