Passenger traffic at Senegal’s main international airport rose modestly in the first quarter of 2026, supported by strong international demand and a surge linked to the Africa Cup of Nations, airport data showed.
Blaise Diagne International Airport handled 735,370 passengers between January and March, up 2.45 percent compared with the same period a year earlier.
The increase was driven largely by international travel, with January emerging as the busiest month during the quarter.
Passenger numbers in January reached 279,091, compared with 264,613 in January 2025, reflecting a seasonal boost from the Africa Cup of Nations, which attracted fans and teams travelling across the region.
Despite the rise in passenger traffic, aircraft movements declined slightly over the period, highlighting evolving airline strategies and capacity adjustments.
The airport recorded 6,140 flights in the first quarter, down 4 percent year-on-year. Industry observers attribute the decline in part to network restructuring by Air Senegal, which has suspended several underperforming routes in an effort to improve financial sustainability.
The reduction in flights suggests airlines are optimising capacity by deploying larger aircraft or focusing on more profitable routes, a trend seen across several markets as carriers seek to manage costs.
Meanwhile, air freight volumes posted strong growth, underlining the airport’s growing role as a logistics hub.
Cargo traffic rose by 21.4 percent to 11,700 metric tonnes in the first quarter, reflecting increased trade activity and demand for air cargo services.
Analysts say the divergence between passenger growth and declining flight numbers points to improved load factors and more efficient route management by airlines operating at the airport.
The quarterly performance builds on a solid full-year result in 2025, when the airport handled 2.94 million passengers.
This included around 1.3 million arrivals and 1.4 million departures, with growth driven mainly by international routes.
Traffic with Europe increased by 5.46 percent, while connections with North Africa rose by 2.2 percent. Passenger flows between Senegal and North America also expanded, rising by 5.5 percent, reflecting strengthening long-haul connectivity.
Senegal has been positioning itself as a regional aviation hub, leveraging its geographic location and investments in modern airport infrastructure to attract airlines and transit passengers.
Blaise Diagne International Airport, which replaced the older Léopold Sédar Senghor Airport as Dakar’s main gateway, has played a central role in this strategy.
The airport’s performance is closely linked to broader economic trends, including tourism, trade and business travel, all of which have shown signs of recovery following global disruptions in recent years.
However, challenges remain for the aviation sector, including cost pressures, route profitability and competition from other regional hubs.
For Air Senegal, ongoing network adjustments are part of a broader effort to stabilise operations and strengthen its position in a competitive market.
Looking ahead, analysts say sustaining growth will depend on maintaining strong international demand, expanding cargo capacity and ensuring efficient airline operations.
Major events such as the Africa Cup of Nations are expected to continue providing periodic boosts to passenger traffic, while longer-term growth will rely on consistent improvements in connectivity and service quality.
As Dakar’s main airport continues to expand its role in regional and intercontinental travel, its ability to balance passenger growth with operational efficiency will be key to maintaining momentum in the years ahead.
