Blaise Diagne International Airport opened in December 2017, replacing Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport as Senegal's primary gateway. The facility sits 43 kilometers east of Dakar in the town of Diass, between the capital and Thiès. Construction cost approximately 575 million USD with financing from France and Turkey. The airport handles roughly 3 million passengers annually with capacity designed for 10 million. Turkish firm TAV Airports operates the terminal under a 25-year concession. The single runway measures 3,500 meters. Airlines serving the airport include Air Senegal, Air France, Brussels Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, TAP Air Portugal, and Emirates. Most international arrivals occur between 0600 and 1400 hours, with a secondary wave from 2000 to 2300 hours.
Immigration lines move at variable speeds depending on flight volume and staffing. European Union, ECOWAS member state, and United States passport holders receive 90-day tourist entry stamps without advance visa arrangements as of 2024. Chinese nationals received visa-free access starting in 2013. The officer typically asks about accommodation address and departure plans but rarely requests proof. Baggage claim operates four carousels. Arrival luggage emerges 20 to 45 minutes after deplaning. Customs maintains green and red channels with random inspections common regardless of channel selection. Officers frequently open bags containing electronics. They do not generally request duty payment on personal devices but may examine commercial quantities. Declare currency above 1 million CFA francs (approximately 1,650 USD at fixed parity).
Currency exchange booths in the arrivals hall post rates approximately 3 to 5 percent below mid-market rates. ATMs from Ecobank, BICIS, and CBAO Groupe Attijariwafa Bank operate in the baggage claim area and accept Visa and Mastercard. The CFA franc (XOF) maintains fixed parity with the euro at 655.957 francs per euro, guaranteed by the French Treasury. Machines dispense maximum 150,000 to 200,000 francs per transaction with fees between 3,000 and 5,000 francs. Many travelers withdraw sufficient cash for immediate needs and exchange larger amounts at better rates in Dakar. Banks in the capital typically offer 1 to 2 percent better rates than airport facilities.
Official airport taxis operate from a dedicated rank outside arrivals. The system requires purchasing a ticket from the booth inside the terminal before proceeding to vehicles. Fixed prices to Dakar destinations as of early 2024: 15,000 francs to downtown Plateau district, 18,000 francs to Almadies area, 12,000 francs to nearby suburbs like Rufisque. Prices increase 50 percent between 2200 and 0600 hours. The booth closes periodically when staff take breaks; waits of 15 minutes occur. Vehicles are primarily Toyota sedans and station wagons. Journey time to central Dakar ranges from 45 minutes in light traffic to 90 minutes during morning rush (0700-0930) and evening peak (1730-1930). The route follows the A1 toll highway, which costs 600 francs. This amount is included in the fixed taxi price.
Ride-hailing applications Yango and Heetch operate in Senegal. Both function at the airport though drivers must pay 500 francs to enter the pickup zone. Fares to Dakar typically cost 8,000 to 12,000 francs depending on time and demand, notably less than official taxis. Arrival requires walking to the parking area rather than curbside pickup. Mobile data enables app usage; purchase a SIM card at airport kiosks from Orange, Free, or Expresso. Starter packages cost 1,000 to 2,000 francs with 1 to 2 GB data. Installation requires passport presentation. Vendors activate cards immediately.
Car rental counters from agencies including Hertz, Europcar, Avis, and local company Sénégal Auto Location operate in the arrivals hall. Daily rates for economy vehicles start around 25,000 francs without insurance. International driving permits are officially required alongside home country licenses, though enforcement varies. Insurance adds 5,000 to 8,000 francs daily. Credit card authorization holds range from 300,000 to 500,000 francs. Roads connecting the airport to Dakar are paved and well-maintained on the A1 highway, but driving culture involves frequent lane changes, limited turn signal use, and aggressive merging. Traffic police checkpoints occur regularly on the airport route. Officers check documents and vehicle registration.
Dakar Dem Dikk operates public bus service between the airport and city via the TER commuter rail connection point at Diamniadio, then bus routes into Dakar. This option requires multiple transfers and takes 2 to 3 hours minimum. Cost totals approximately 1,500 francs. Buses lack air conditioning and become extremely crowded. Luggage storage space is minimal. Few international travelers use this method due to time and comfort considerations. The TER train itself does not yet directly serve the airport despite original planning intentions. As of 2024, the rail line runs from Dakar to Diamniadio, several kilometers north of the airport, requiring connecting road transport.
Airport facilities include a small food court with sandwich shops, a sit-down restaurant operated by Nescafé, and vending machines. Prices exceed city levels by 30 to 50 percent. Free WiFi operates throughout the terminal with acceptable speeds for messaging and browsing. Banking hours for full-service branches in the terminal typically run 0800 to 1600 weekdays, closed weekends. The prayer room is located on the departures level. Luggage storage services were not consistently available as of 2024; inquire at information desks for current status.
Travelers connecting to domestic flights face potential complications. Air Senegal operates services to Cap Skirring, Ziguinchor, and Tambacounda from the same terminal. Minimum connection time is officially 90 minutes, but irregular domestic departure timing means missed connections occur. No formal interline baggage agreements exist for most international carriers, requiring baggage re-check. Domestic check-in counters close 40 minutes before departure strictly.
The arrivals hall includes mobile phone shops, small souvenir vendors selling batik fabrics and wooden carvings, and tour operator desks. Hotel reservation assistance is available from desks representing Radisson Blu, Pullman, and Onomo chains. Prices quoted at these desks match or slightly exceed direct booking rates. Senegal tourism office maintains an information desk with irregular staffing. When staffed, agents provide city maps and answer basic questions about transportation and hotels.
Security presence is visible with both airport security personnel and National Gendarmerie officers. Travelers occasionally face requests for "gifts" or encounter suggestions that document problems exist requiring small payments. Polite firmness typically resolves these interactions. Genuine document issues should be addressed through airline or embassy channels rather than informal payments. Scams targeting new arrivals typically involve offers of unofficial taxi service at competitive prices leading to vehicles outside airport control. These sometimes result in route diversions to shops where drivers receive commissions or inflated final fares.
The airport prohibits sleeping in the terminal overnight. Security clears the public areas after the last arriving flight. Travelers with long layovers or early departures must book airport hotels. Onomo Hotel Dakar Airport sits within walking distance of the terminal, approximately 400 meters. Rates start around 40,000 francs for basic rooms. The hotel operates a free shuttle every 30 minutes during operational hours. Other nearby options include hotel facilities in Diamniadio, 15 minutes away by taxi for approximately 3,000 francs.
Medical facilities at the airport consist of a small clinic handling minor issues. The clinic can provide basic first aid and assess whether hospital transport is necessary. For serious medical concerns, the closest major facility is Hôpital Principal de Dakar, approximately 50 kilometers away in the capital. Travel insurance documentation should be immediately accessible, as private facilities may require payment guarantees before treatment. Pharmacies do not operate in the terminal; the nearest pharmacies are in Diass town, 3 kilometers from the airport.
Senegal requires yellow fever vaccination certificates for travelers arriving from countries with yellow fever transmission risk. Officers check certificates during immigration processing for applicable passengers. The requirement applies regardless of transit status if arriving from endemic zones. No vaccination facilities exist at the airport; travelers lacking required certification face denial of entry or quarantine. Current yellow fever endemic countries include most of West and Central Africa, parts of South America. Consult the official Senegal health ministry website for the current list.