Strike by air traffic controllers at Senegal airport suspended

The strike by air traffic controllers at the new Senegalese airport have been suspended following an imminent opening of negotiations with the government.

The union is demanding increased stipends for employees transport to the airport, which lies some 45 km outside the city centre.

President of the Air Traffic Controllers Union, Mame Alioune said they are doing the maximum with the equipment adding that the danger is still there.

“On the training side, controllers whose responsibility it is to ensure air security has already been trained at college and are capable. But it’s not enough. We need equipment in the control tower to help us do our job correctly. In Diass, there is new, latest generation equipment that has been installed. We have not been trained on that equipment,” he added.

The airport is Senegal’s busiest and the strike is likely to affect scheduled flights by international carriers, including Air France and Ethiopian Airlines.

The Senegalese government says the new $680 million airport, which opened on Dec. 7, will help make Senegal a transport hub in West Africa and boost the country’s tourism sector.