Since January 18, 2025, Air Senegal aircraft registrations have expired. Based in Miami (United States), Carlyle Aviation Partners, which supplies Air Senegal with two Airbus A319s and two A321s under contracts signed under the former management of Philippe Bohn and Ibrahima Kane, refuses to transmit the documents necessary for their renewal , despite the substantial sums already received by the company.
In response, the National Agency for Civil Aviation and Meteorology (Anacim) had, in advance, asked Air Senegal to update the delegations of powers. This, pointing to an anomaly in internal management, the official documents still designated Alioune Badara Fall as Director General, while Tidiane Ndiaye has held this position for several months.
On January 13, 2025, Tidiane Ndiaye sent an official letter to Carlyle, emphasizing the urgency of the situation, reports L’Observateur. He explained that “the absence of updating of the delegations of powers hinders the obligations of Air Senegal, in particular within the framework of concluded rental contracts, including that of May 18, 2018 for the A319 Msn 3078. Carlyle remained silent in the face of this pressing request.”
Astronomical amounts at stake
Since 2018, Air Senegal has paid 57.96 billion FCFA to Carlyle for the rental of the four aircraft. However, the American company is today requesting a letter of intent to purchase these same planes, valued at $32 million (20.36 billion FCFA), with an immediate deposit of $18 million (11.45 billion FCFA) and a balance of 14 million dollars (8.91 billion FCFA) to be paid before May 31, 2025.
A requirement considered unrealistic by the General Management of Air Senegal, while the company continues to pay 1.34 million dollars (852.92 million FCFA) per month for planes, some of which are grounded, namely “an A319 is grounded for two years, while the second has been broken down for seven months. The two A321s are also out of service, although their rents are still paid.”
The cost of immobilized aircraft remains colossal” the first A319, delivered in 2018, cost 21.16 million dollars (13.46 billion FCFA). The second, received in May 2019, generated the same expenses.
The A321s, integrated into the fleet in 2020 and 2021, represent costs of 25.34 million dollars (16.12 billion FCFA) and 23.4 million dollars (14.89 billion FCFA) respectively.
-Crisis
Faced with this situation, Air Senegal’s lawyers are considering legal proceedings against Carlyle, accused of blackmail. “Carlyle demands a firm commitment for a purchase of 20 billion FCFA, while Air Senegal has already paid more than the current value of these planes,” declares an internal source.
The challenges are not limited to Carlyle. An A330Neo, grounded for months due to an engine problem, remains under repair in Europe, without Airbus being able to provide a rapid solution. This situation pushes Air Senegal to consider a change of aircraft manufacturer, in particular to Boeing, indicates the newspaper.
Although the General Management assures that it has found an alternative solution to avoid any disruption to the network, State intervention seems essential to maintain the viability of the company. “If nothing is done, bankruptcy is inevitable,” warns a source.
The national flag, a symbol of sovereignty, continues to operate despite these challenges, with regular and occasional flights. However, without decisive support, the future of Air Senegal remains “severely compromised.”
