Senegal to launch new, private sector-driven airline

DAKAR (Reuters) - Senegal will launch a new, private sector-dominated national airline in early 2010 to replace Air Senegal International (ASI) which collapsed earlier this year, the government said on Friday.

ASI, a joint operation with Royal Air Maroc (RAM), stopped operating earlier this year due to a bitter row between the Senegalese authorities and RAM. The two parties said in May they would relaunch the carrier but that plan has been shelved.

"The new airline will officially be know as Senegal Airlines and will be based in Dakar," said a statement from the office of Karim Wade, minister in charge of International Cooperation, Urban Planning, Air Transportation and Infrastructure.

"Yes, we are helping establish the carrier, and as government, we will retain a small stake in Senegal Airlines. But this is a private sector company that will be driven by the market it will serve," Waded was quoted saying in the statement.

Until the row with RAM led to Moroccan planes being withdrawn, ASI had been one of the most reliable carriers in West Africa, a region where airlines are plagued with finance problems, irregular service and poor safety records.

The new airline is expected to fly to destinations in Africa and Europe.

More details on Senegal Airlines and its future fleet will be unveiled at the Dubai Air Show in mid November, the statement added.