Avec notre correspondante à Dakar, Léa-Lisa Westerhoff

Air Sénégal’s decision to ground its entire Dakar-Paris cabin crew has sent shockwaves through the airline and raised pressing questions about what it means for travellers, businesses and the carrier’s already fragile finances. The suspension, effective since 17 September, affects all stewards and hostesses on the route while an internal inquiry determines responsibility, according to a source within the company.

The move stems from suspicions that crew members were carrying parcels for payment — a practice known locally as “GP”, where goods are transported for a fee per kilogram. This activity is strictly prohibited by Air Sénégal and is associated with freight trafficking. The airline has not yet disclosed what was inside the packages.

Georgian crew and aircraft step in to keep the route alive

Since the suspension, the private Georgian airline MyWay has been operating the Dakar-Paris service with its own crew and one of its aircraft on behalf of Air Sénégal.

The incident is a fresh blow for a carrier already under fire for service quality and grappling with severe financial difficulties. Several of its planes have been seized, and it is now a leased Boeing from MyWay that connects the French and Senegalese capitals.