Key Facts
- —The country Senegal is a West African coastal nation of about 18.9 million people. Its economy, worth about US$37 billion in 2025 (World Bank), began pumping oil and gas in 2024.
- —Why it matters Senegal’s state-owned carrier, Air Sénégal, has absorbed about US$310 million of public money since 2018. Dakar wants to become a regional air hub linking Africa, Europe and the Americas.
- —Why now President Bassirou Diomaye Faye met Air Cairo’s chief executive in Egypt on Saturday 3 October, during a business forum in the coastal city of El-Alamein.
- —What happened Air Cairo, Egypt’s second-largest airline according to Senegal’s presidency, said it is preparing direct Cairo–Dakar flights and offered to train Air Sénégal staff.
- —Who is involved Air Cairo, part-owned by the state carrier EgyptAir, and its chief executive Hussein Sherif Fahmi; Air Sénégal; and Senegal’s presidency, which announced the talks.
- —What it means for you A direct Cairo link would give travellers and exporters in Dakar a nonstop route to Egypt and onward connections to the Middle East and Asia.
- —Still open Nothing has been signed. No launch date, flight schedule, fares or training budget has been published.
Egypt’s Air Cairo wants to fly directly to Senegal’s capital and to train crews for Senegal’s struggling national airline. The offer came in talks with President Faye, but no deal has been signed.
Egypt’s Air Cairo is preparing direct flights between Cairo and Dakar, the capital of Senegal, according to Senegal’s presidency. The airline also offered to train engineers, mechanics and flight crew for Air Sénégal, the country’s loss-making state carrier.
Senegal is a French-speaking West African country of about 18.9 million people on the Atlantic coast. Its president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, took office in April 2024 promising to clean up costly state companies.
What was agreed in El-Alamein
Faye received Air Cairo’s chief executive, Hussein Sherif Fahmi, on Saturday 3 October. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Alamein–Africa Business Forum in El-Alamein, on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast.
According to the presidency’s statement, the talks centred on restoring a direct air link between Cairo and Dakar. The presidency said Air Cairo is currently preparing the route.
Fahmi also said his airline was ready to help train Air Sénégal’s engineers, mechanics and flight crew. Air Cairo additionally offered to open a cargo service between the two countries to support trade.
The Egyptian executive called Senegal a natural hub, open to Africa, Europe and the Americas, the presidency reported. Faye travelled to Egypt after attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Who Air Cairo is
Air Cairo is a Cairo-based airline part-owned by EgyptAir, Egypt’s state flag carrier. Senegal’s presidency described it as Egypt’s second-largest airline.
It flies scheduled routes to the Middle East and Europe from bases in Cairo, Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada. It also runs charter flights that bring European holidaymakers to Egypt’s Red Sea resorts.
What remains unconfirmed
The presidency’s statement describes readiness and plans, not a contract. No signing, start date, flight frequency, aircraft type or fare has been announced.
The training offer has no published budget, duration or number of trainees. Neither airline has issued its own statement giving further detail.
The money behind Air Sénégal’s rescue
Figures here use the West African CFA franc, shared by eight countries and pegged to the euro. The conversion rate is 583 CFA francs per US dollar, the market rate on 2 October 2026.
On 3 April 2025, the government said the state had put about CFA181 billion (about US$310 million) into Air Sénégal since 2018. The airline still carried debt of more than CFA118 billion (about US$202 million).
Losses reached CFA89 billion (about US$153 million) in 2022 and CFA57 billion (about US$98 million) in 2023. More than CFA100 billion (about US$172 million) went on leasing aircraft.
The government also said only 5% of a 2022 recovery plan had been carried out. It blamed management failings for the airline’s condition.
Dakar’s plan to fix the airline
At that April 2025 meeting, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko’s government adopted 20 rescue measures. They covered Air Sénégal and the state company that owns Dakar’s main airport.
The measures included paying off the airline’s operating debts by the end of June 2025.
Sonko also asked ministers to inject at least CFA16 billion (about US$27 million) to restore the airline’s equity. The plan also provided for Air Sénégal Express, a subsidiary for domestic flights and routes to neighbouring countries.
In April 2026, Sonko set up a special committee to steer the restructuring of Air Sénégal and the airport company. On Monday 7 September, the carrier took delivery of another Boeing 737-800, which Faye named “Gorée”.
What it means for travellers and business
A restored direct link would spare passengers a change of plane in Europe, North Africa or the Gulf. It would shorten trips between West Africa and the Middle East.
For exporters, an Egypt–Senegal cargo service could open a faster route for goods between North and West Africa. For Air Sénégal, training from a larger carrier could help with safety and maintenance standards.
Visitors already reach Dakar faster from its airport, about 50 kilometres from the city, since the airport train opened in September. More routes would strengthen Dakar’s case as a regional hub.
The talks also fit Egypt’s wider push for influence and trade in sub-Saharan Africa, covered in Africa: The New Scramble.
What to watch next
The first test is whether Air Cairo files a schedule and puts the Dakar flights on sale. A signed training agreement with Air Sénégal would be the second.
Watch also for the audit results and the launch of Air Sénégal Express. Those steps will show whether outside help can turn the state airline around.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a direct flight between Senegal and Egypt?
Not yet. Senegal’s presidency said on 3 October 2026 that Air Cairo is preparing direct flights between Cairo and Dakar. No start date has been published.
Has Air Cairo signed a deal with Air Sénégal?
No. Air Cairo said it was ready to train Air Sénégal’s engineers, mechanics and flight crew. No agreement, budget or timetable has been announced.
How much has Senegal spent on Air Sénégal?
The government said in April 2025 that the state had put about CFA181 billion (about US$310 million) into the airline since 2018. Its debt then exceeded CFA118 billion (about US$202 million).
What is Air Sénégal Express?
It is a planned subsidiary of Air Sénégal for domestic flights and routes to neighbouring countries. The government announced it in its April 2025 rescue plan.
Sources
- APS: Faye and Air Cairo chief discuss direct Cairo–Dakar link (3 Oct 2026)
- NDARINFO: Air Cairo plans direct Cairo–Dakar flights (3 Oct 2026)
- APS: Government figures on Air Sénégal finances (3 Apr 2025)
- APS: 20 measures to revive Air Sénégal (3 Apr 2025)
- APS: Air Sénégal receives Boeing 737-800 “Gorée” (7 Sep 2026)
- World Bank: Senegal data
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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