New international airport opens in Senegal's Dakar

By Alpha Kamara
DAKAR, Senegal (AA) - Senegal's modern Blaise Diagne International Airport opened on Thursday after over 10 years of work.
The $575 million airport located 47 kilometers (29 miles) from Dakar will have an initial capacity to handle 3 million passengers per year, and 10 million later, making it one of the highest-capacity airports in West Africa.
Presidents of Gambia Adama Barrow, Gabon Ali Bongo Ondimba, and Guinea Bissau Jose Mario Vaz joined Macky Sall for the opening ceremony.
President Sall said the airport was part of the modernization of Senegal, necessary to compete with other major airports in the region.
The new Blaise Diagne airport has a two-tier passenger terminal, a presidential pavilion that can accommodate 3 million passengers or more.
It also has a cargo terminal for 50,000 tons per year, a runway capable of receiving an A380 airbus, and a car park with 700 parking spaces.