The first ITA Airways flight from Rome Fiumicino AZ854 landed yesterday 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 represents a major product for the airline and the second new ITA Airways’ flight to the African continent taking off in the 2024 Summer Season, after the opening of the nonstop connection to Accra in June.
The new flight will operate according to the following schedule:
- Dakar – Rome with four weekly frequencies: from July to October, departure from Dakar Blaise Diagne airport is scheduled at 11:40 pm (local time), with arrival in Rome Fiumicino the following morning at 7:20 am (local time).
- Rome – Dakar with four weekly frequencies: from July to October, the timetable includes departure from Rome Fiumicino at 2:55 p.m. (local time) and arrival in Senegal at 6:55 p.m. (local time).
Flights to and from Dakar will be operated with the new Airbus A321neo, a new-generation, technologically advanced aircraft. The A321neo is the largest aircraft in the Airbus A320neo family and offers exceptional range and performance. Efficient and quiet, the new A321neo boasts 20% lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions per seat. It is the first narrow-body aircraft configured with three separate cabins: Business Class (12 seats), Premium Economy (12 seats), and Economy (141 seats, including 12 dedicated to Comfort Economy). The cabin interiors, entirely designed by Walter de Silva, perfectly embody the elegance and style typical of Italy.
Distinctive features of the A321neo include the Airspace Cabin with new colors and materials, the latest generation of seats, new ITA Airways customized interior lighting and XL overhead bins. Each seat is equipped with the latest entertainment system, featuring “on-demand” video and audio, 17.3” (Business), 15.6” (Premium Economy) and 13.3” (Economy) low reflectivity and 4K resolution touchscreens for a simple, smooth and intuitive user experience.
With the introduction of the new nonstop flight to Dakar, ITA Airways will operate 57 destinations in the current summer season, including 16 domestic, 26 international, and 15 intercontinental. Additionally, during the summer peak, the airline will fly to 12 additional seasonal destinations, selected among the most popular
Mediterranean tourist spots, including Greece, Spain, Croatia, and the Italian islands, accessible with direct flights from Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate.
The new flights can be purchased through ITA Airways’ sales channels, including the official website www.itaairways.com, the airline’s Customer Center, travel agencies, and airport ticket offices.
