The funding will be used to increase annual passenger capacity by 40% and build a cargo terminal, with a view to transforming the airport into a leading air hub in West Africa by 2035.

Senegal has secured financing of 300 million euros ($326.2 million) for the extension of Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD), announced asset manager Ninety One in a statement released on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

He explained that he had teamed up with British bank Standard Chartered Bank, which acted as mandated lead arranger and bookrunner, to raise 100 million euros in financing, while the Senegalese public company that manages the airport raised 200 million euros from a pool of banks.

The funding will be used to increase annual passenger capacity by 40% to over 5 million, and to build a freight terminal, according to the London and Cape Town-based asset manager.

"Investment in critical infrastructure such as the AIBD helps facilitate growth in tourism and other sectors, which will promote the development of intra-African trade," said Reabetswe Kungwane, investment specialist at Ninety One.

Blaise Diagne International Airport, which was officially opened to flights in December 2017, today concentrates over 90% of air traffic in Senegal and aims to become a leading air hub in West Africa by 2035. This airport infrastructure, located 45 km east of Dakar, was built on a surface area of 4,500 hectares, with a 42,000 m² passenger terminal and a 12,800 m² freight terminal.

Agence Ecofin