Country Manager Malle Sall Debunks Allegation

Air Senegal International has come under intense attack as some of the airline’s passengers who recently got stranded in Dakar strongly protested at what they called poor service delivery of the airline.

The disgruntled stranded passengers who spoke to this paper accused personnel of the airline of being inconsiderate in the way they deal with their customers. 

Alhaji Buba Sahor, a veteran travel agent who was among the stranded passengers, launched scathing criticism against Air Senegal International, saying that the staffs are inept and discourteous.

He said: “I was the least satisfied with the way and manner in which we were treated.

 “The aircraft that was supposed to fly us had a technical breakdown and we were lodged in a poor hotel in Dakar for more than 24 hours. And their personnel did not even have the courtesy to explain to us what was happening. Even one of the staff had to tell us that we either take it or leave it,” Mr. Sahor lamented.

According to the apparently exasperated Mr.  Sahor, two Gambian National Assembly Members, a UNDP staff, as well as other prominent personalities were on the flight, adding that he was expecting that they would be treated with utmost respect.

When contacted to shed light on the story, the Country Manager of Air Senegal International in The Gambia, Malle Sall, confirmed that there was indeed a delay in flight due to technical fault.  He was however quick to brush aside the allegation that their customers were poorly handled.

He said: “We are a member of International Air Transport Association – IATA and we are following the regulation stipulated by IATA. That is if the aircraft gets technical break drown or there is a problem of cancellation of flight, we have to take full responsibility of passengers.”  He maintained that Air Senegal International have been providing sterling services to their teeming customers, emphasizing that this is all the more reason why they are accredited members of the international aviation body- IATA.

“We are the only airline that never closed in The Gambia. We have been here for many years now, so we want to assure the travelling public that everything is normal and let them keep patronizing us,” he concluded