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Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport
Dakar, Senegal
Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport
Dakar's historic gateway on the Atlantic coast of West Africa.
- ›Named after Léopold Sédar Senghor, Senegal's first president and a renowned poet.
- ›Located just 1 km from central Dakar, making it one of the closest international airports to a city center in Africa.
- ›Commercial operations were transferred to the new Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD) by May 2018.
- ›The airport operated for over 70 years as Senegal's primary international aviation hub.
- ›Its closure was driven by capacity limitations and inability to expand within the dense urban environment.
Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport, named after Senegal's celebrated poet-president, served as Dakar's primary international gateway for decades until the opening of Blaise Diagne International Airport in 2017. Located just a few kilometres from central Dakar in the Yoff district, the airport played a historic role as a transatlantic refuelling hub and remains partially operational for general aviation and some domestic services. Its urban location and storied past make it a landmark in the story of West African aviation.
- Main Terminal — The single passenger terminal that handled international and domestic flights during the airport's operational peak, now largely inactive for commercial traffic.
- Taxi from designated ranks outside the arrivals area
- Private car hire and pre-arranged transfers
- Car rental desks within the terminal building
- Dakar Dem Dikk public buses serving the city centre
- Radisson Blu Hotel Dakar Sea Plaza
- Terrou-Bi Hotel
- Hôtel Ngor Diarama
- King Fahd Palace Hotel
- Pullman Dakar Teranga
Food options at the airport itself were limited to a modest selection of snack bars and a restaurant serving Senegalese and continental dishes. The surrounding Yoff and Les Almadies districts offer excellent local restaurants serving thieboudienne, yassa, and fresh Atlantic seafood at very reasonable prices.
- Note that most international commercial flights now operate from Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS), roughly 47 km from the city centre — confirm your departure airport before travelling.
- Agree on a taxi fare before departure, as meters are uncommon and negotiation is expected.
- The Yoff neighbourhood around the airport is well connected but traffic into central Dakar can be heavy — allow extra time during morning and evening rush hours.
- Currency exchange is more reliably done at bank branches or ATMs in the city rather than at airport kiosks.
AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.
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Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport is an international freight and former passenger airport serving Dakar, the capital of Senegal. The airport is situated near the town of Yoff, a northern suburb of Dakar. It was known as Dakar-Yoff International Airport until 9 October 1996, when it was renamed in honor of Léopold Sédar Senghor (1906–2001), the first president of Senegal.
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