Delta Airlines: 1.1 million passengers transported between Dakar and the United States in 20 years

Launched in 2006, Delta Airlines’ air link between Dakar and the United States is celebrating its twenty years of existence this year. On this occasion, the American company organized a press conference yesterday at the King Fahd Palace, moderated by its General Director in Dakar, Ryan Bowman. The opportunity was taken to review the results of this service and its prospects.

Since its launch, this line has transported more than 1.1 million passengers. It welcomes different categories of travelers, including members of the diaspora, businessmen, diplomats, students and tourists. Beyond air transport, this service contributes to strengthening trade between Senegal and the United States, while offering connection possibilities to other destinations, Ryan Bowman immediately emphasized. He also highlighted the role of partnerships established on the Senegalese market in the development of this connection.

The presence of Delta Airlines in Senegal was also accompanied by employment and training initiatives. The company indicates “recruit local staff and offer twelve-month paid internships to postgraduate students. In 2023, it notably organized, with the Senegal Youth Consortium, an innovation program that brought together 69 young people around themes linked to entrepreneurship and skills development.

Addressing the constraints of the airline sector, the general director mentioned in particular “the rise in oil prices, which affects all companies”. According to him, these developments require a capacity for anticipation and adaptation to preserve the continuity of operations. After two decades of presence, the Dakar–United States link constitutes one of the main axes of international air service to Senegal.

Mamadou Laye Dieye