Air Sénégal (HC, Dakar Blaise Diagne International) took delivery of its maiden pair of aircraft on Thursday, December 7. The Senegalese start-up carrier formally unveiled its two ATR72-600s, 6V-AMS (msn 1447) and 6V-ANS (msn 1452), during the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Dakar Blaise Diagne International Airport.

Although government had hoped to have the airline become the first operator to start commercial flights out of the USD500 million facility, that honour fell to the privately-owned Transair (Senegal) (R2, Dakar Blaise Diagne International) with its inaugural service to Ziguinchor. All operators are expected to transfer their respective flights to the new airport following Dakar Yoff-Léopold Sédar Senghor International's closure to all traffic at 1200L.

For its part, Air Senegal is only expected to commence revenue flights once it has completed certification, expected in early 2018.