The Dakar/Blaise-based Air Senegal agreed with Macquarie AirFinance to lease five Airbus A220-300s during the Dubai Airshow 2021.
The national airline of The Republic of Senegal had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for eight A220s in November 2019, valued at USD 739 million at the listed price. The agreement with Macquarie confirms five aircraft of the model with a delivery date of 2023, keeping open the possibility of three more in the future.
The A220-300s will be used to connect Dakar (DSS) to regional destinations in West Africa and Europe, as part of a 20-year plan to strengthen Senegal’s travel and tourism.
“We are very pleased to have Macquarie AirFinance on our side for the A220 program. The addition of this aircraft will be a game-changer in the West African landscape. It will provide our customers with an exceptional experience in terms of comfort and connectivity. This new generation of aircraft will also bring substantial sustainability, fuel savings and improve our financial results”, said Ibrahima Kane, CEO of Air Senegal.
John Willingham, CEO of Macquarie AirFinance, commented: “We are pleased to conclude this agreement with Air Senegal, which we see as the start of a successful long-term partnership. The airline’s plans for the aircraft demonstrate its exceptional passenger appeal, efficiency, and versatility. We look forward to flying the A220-300 when it enters service in Senegal and experiencing the airline’s famous Teranga hospitality.”
The five aircraft are part of the lessor’s order backlog of 29 A220-300s. Macquarie AirFinance’s portfolio comprises more than 240 aircraft.
Air Senegal currently operates a fleet of two Airbus A330-900s, two A319ceo, two Airbus A321ceo, and two ATR 72-600s. It serves 16 international and two domestic destinations, including the United States (Washington/Baltimore and New York); Spain (Barcelona); Italy (Milan); France (Lyon, Marseille, and Paris); Benin; Cameroon (Douala); Ivory Coast (Abidjan); Gambia (Banjul); Gabon (Libreville); Mali (Bamako); Guinea-Bissau; Guinea (Conakry) and Mauritania.
