ITA Airways operates new nonstop flight to Senegal

12.07.2024 - 17:03 / traveldailynews.com / Vicky Karantzavelou / Emiliana Limosani / Ita Airways

ITA Airways launched its first direct flight from Rome to Dakar, marking the airline’s expansion into sub-Saharan Africa with a new intercontinental route.

DAKAR / ROME – The first ITA Airways flight from Rome Fiumicino AZ854 landed on July 3rd at Dakar-Blaise Diagne International Airport in Dakar, Senegal, at 6:55 pm (local time). The aircraft, an Airbus A321neo, was welcomed with a water arch salute. The inaugural ITA Airways flight from Dakar Airport to Rome Fiumicino AZ855 departed at 11:40 p.m. (local time).

To celebrate the launch of this new intercontinental route, the company’s second destination in sub-Saharan Africa, an increasingly strategic market for the Italian carrier, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the arrival hall of Dakar-Blaise Diagne Airport. The ceremony was attended by Ndiaye Ngor, Ambassador of Senegal to Italy, Federico Bernardi, Charge d’Affairs Italian Embassy in Dakar, Jean Baptiste Diop, Head of Communication and Marketing at LAS AIBD, Manel Fall, Director of Tourism Promotion at Senegal’s Ministry of Tourism, Cheikh Diouf, Director of Airport Infrastructure at Senegal’s Ministry of Transport, Pierfrancesco Carino, Vice President International Sales ITA Airways, and Benedetto Mencaroni, Regional Manager for Asia, Middle East, and Africa ITA Airways.

“We are delighted to inaugurate our first nonstop flight between Dakar and Rome, the second destination we have introduced in the sub-Saharan African market within a month,” said Emiliana Limosani, Chief Commercial Officer of ITA Airways and CEO of Volare. “This is part of our ongoing summer network expansion, which has already yielded excellent booking results. The new flight, utilizing the brand new A321neo, will not only extend our medium-haul network but also foster commercial and cultural exchanges between Senegal and Italy, enhancing both leisure and business traffic.”

“I am very pleased and proud to be here with you today for the inaugural flight of ITA Airways to Dakar,” declared Ngor Ndiaye, Ambassador of Senegal in Italy. “Senegal and Italy maintain exemplary relations in the diplomatic, economic, cultural, and scientific fields, relations which, I am convinced, will develop even further thanks to these four direct flights a week. Thanks to ITA Airways, we will maximize the potential for trade and tourism exchanges”.

“The return of our national company to Senegal further strengthens the dynamism of our bilateral relations and their privileged nature, stemming from a varied and deep partnership, as well as the stability and democratic character that Senegal can boast in the sub-region”, stated Federico Bernardi, Charge d’Affairs of the Italian Embassy in Dakar.

The opening of the new Rome – Dakar flight