Arc en Ciel Airlines
Arc en Ciel Airlines is a Senegalese airline.
Founded in 1996 as Arc en Ciel Aviation, the company changed its name to Arc en Ciel Airlines in 2020.
Based in Senegal, at Dakar Yoff's Léopold-Sédar-Senghor airport, the company mainly offers charter flights and medical evacuation services.
By 2024, its fleet includes 5 aircraft.
History
[edit]Arc en Ciel Airlines was founded in 1996 under the name Arc en Ciel Aviation. That same year, the company set up a maintenance workshop to provide this service on its fleet.
The company's name is a tribute to the Couzinet Arc en Ciel aircraft flown by Jean Mermoz across the South Atlantic from Saint Louis du Sénégal in 1933.
The company was taken over in 2004 by Michel Jacquot, a professional pilot and experienced business aviation manager.
In the summer of 2019, the French AVICO Group became the majority shareholder[1][2] with the ambition of supporting the company's development.
In March 2020, the company changed its name to Arc en Ciel Airlines[3][4] and the Namibian company Westair Aviation acquired a stake in Arc en Ciel Airlines alongside the Avico Group.
A first Beechcraft 1900D enters service in early 2022, joined by a Cessna F406 in the same year.
Activity
[edit]Arc en Ciel Airlines specializes in on-demand flights, business aviation, urgent freight and medical evacuations in West Africa and to Southern Europe.
Its offices and workshops are located at the Léopold-Sédar-Senghor (DKR) international airport in Dakar Yoff. The company also has a base at Blaise-Diagne International Airport (DSS).
The company's geographical position and the characteristics of its fleet also make Arc en Ciel Airlines attractive to mining and oil companies involved in major projects in the region.
Fleet
[edit]The Arc en Ciel Airlines fleet includes 6 aircraft:
| Aircraft | Number | Seat configuration | Range | Stretcher equipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beechcraft 1900D | 1 | 18 | 1 000 NM | Yes |
| C208B Grand Caravan | 1 | 12 | 1 200 NM | Yes |
| Reims-Cessna F406 | 1 | 12 | 1250 NM | Yes |
| PA 23 - Aztec 250 | 1 | 6 | 1 100 NM | No |
| PA 32 - Saratoga | 1 | 5 | 1 000 NM | Yes |
References
[edit]- ^ "Jets privés en Afrique : le pari sénégalais d'Avico". Jeune Afrique.
- ^ "La compagnie sénégalaise Arc en Ciel sous l'aile d'Avico". Le Point (in French). 2019-07-24. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
- ^ "Senegal's Arc en Ciel Aviation rebrands, eyes oil niche". ch-aviation. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
- ^ Rédaction, La (2020-03-06). "Dites désormais Arc en Ciel Airlines !" (in French). Retrieved 2024-03-30.