The fate of Air Senegal is still up in the air according to new sources. After the withdrawal of Royal Moroccan from the airline, Karim Wade, the new infrastructure minister, says that a deal has been struck where Royal Moroccan will provide "operational support" while Senegal's government goes it alone.
But despite the optimism expressed by Karim Wade after the deal, the news reports say that major obstacles stand in the way of any liftoff for Air Senegal, including payments for two airplanes and the approval of the new operations by international air regulators.
Showing posts with label airline. Show all posts
Showing posts with label airline. Show all posts
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Air Senegal grounded
Air Senegal International (ASI) has stopped operations as a row between the Senegalese state and majority shareholder Royal Air Maroc (RAM) has grounded all remaining flights, the Moroccan airline said on Friday.
RAM, which owns 51 percent of ASI and had provided several aircraft, recalled its last plane from the airline's fleet earlier this month, leaving ASI, one of West Africa's few reliable carriers, with just two operating planes.
RAM criticised Senegal for the country's unilateral decision in 2007 to take majority control of the airline, a move that has not yet materialised. RAM also says Senegal owes the company about 4 million euros.
RAM has taken a "you want it, you can have it" posture lately, adopting an orderly but insistent withdrawal from the company.
RAM, which owns 51 percent of ASI and had provided several aircraft, recalled its last plane from the airline's fleet earlier this month, leaving ASI, one of West Africa's few reliable carriers, with just two operating planes.
RAM criticised Senegal for the country's unilateral decision in 2007 to take majority control of the airline, a move that has not yet materialised. RAM also says Senegal owes the company about 4 million euros.
RAM has taken a "you want it, you can have it" posture lately, adopting an orderly but insistent withdrawal from the company.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
President Wade: "Happy economic new year!!"
Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade used his New Year's Eve message to the county to highlight bold economic initiatives out of the daunting climate of the last year. Noting the "off budget" expenditures that the World Bank found fault with, President Wade still claimed that Senegal was the World Bank's highest rated economy.
The president pointed to the launching of Air Teranga, a Senegalese airline, new universities at St. Louis and Kedougou, and the regional port facilities with free market zones and surface connections to Mali and elsewhere in the region. Other infrastructure lurches fitfully ahead at the turn of the year. "If I were to list these projects, it would take much time, I gave instructions to ministers to publish a table with a list of infrastructure to be carried out in 2009" he said. Of course, the World Bank in its requirements to put Senegal back on its approved list required that the country list all such major projects--necessary to get a grip on the off-budget spending and commitments...
It was a detailed speech with a certain Senegalese optimism throughout. The president didn't shy from most of the nation's problems: high gas prices, energy outages, food insecurity. But he was able to point to activities to deal with the problems, especially in the area of agriculture. Fortuitous good harvests help, too. But so do tractors from India and increasing sophistication in the country's animal husbandry... Recent riots in the hinterlands were largely ignored however...
The president pointed to the launching of Air Teranga, a Senegalese airline, new universities at St. Louis and Kedougou, and the regional port facilities with free market zones and surface connections to Mali and elsewhere in the region. Other infrastructure lurches fitfully ahead at the turn of the year. "If I were to list these projects, it would take much time, I gave instructions to ministers to publish a table with a list of infrastructure to be carried out in 2009" he said. Of course, the World Bank in its requirements to put Senegal back on its approved list required that the country list all such major projects--necessary to get a grip on the off-budget spending and commitments...
It was a detailed speech with a certain Senegalese optimism throughout. The president didn't shy from most of the nation's problems: high gas prices, energy outages, food insecurity. But he was able to point to activities to deal with the problems, especially in the area of agriculture. Fortuitous good harvests help, too. But so do tractors from India and increasing sophistication in the country's animal husbandry... Recent riots in the hinterlands were largely ignored however...
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