Bamako-Senou international airport is the biggest airport in Mali. It is located 13km south of Bamako, the capital city. The airport was opened in 1974 and is operated by Aéroports du Mali (ADM).
The airport has a single runway (06/24), which is 3,180m long and paved with asphalt. The airport currently handles more than 600,000 passengers and 6,000t of cargo in a year. It is expected to handle up to 900,000 passengers in a year by 2015.
Expansions
The airport expansion and modernisation programme was initiated with $181m funding provided by Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a US government foreign aid agency.
The expansion project includes the construction of a new 15,600m² terminal building, expansion of the runway, and construction of new taxiways and aprons. The new terminal project also includes construction of new roads and vehicle parking lots.
The new terminal building broke ground in April 2009. The construction contract, worth $71.6m, was awarded to Sinohydro Corporation. It involves the demolition of the existing air cargo building and replacing it with new terminal building. AECOM was awarded a contract to design and supervise the airport expansion.
The expansion of the runway (06/24) was completed in October 2012. It included expansion of the runway from 2,706m to 3,180m, and the construction of a ramp and land drainage systems. The $43m runway expansion enables the airport to accommodate large aircraft such as Boeing 747.
The construction contract for the runway expansion was awarded to a joint venture consisting of Sogea-Satom (VINCI Construction) and Razel. The project was financed by MCC.
Terminal features
The airport has a single passenger terminal, which is used for both international and domestic flights. The terminal is divided into two separate sections for arrivals and departures.
The terminal is facilitated with 13 check-in desks, a reserved hall for embarking or disembarking passengers, and a business lounge with duty free area. The terminal has a customs clearance office located after the duty-free area, and a business lounge.
The terminal also features Wi-Fi, gift shops, chemists, boutiques and restaurants. The airport also has one cargo terminal.
Baggage handling system
Sinohydro awarded ALSTEF a contract in August 2011 for the design, supply and installation of the baggage handling system at the new terminal of the airport. The scope of the contract included supplying all baggage conveying equipment, baggage screening systems at departures, and three new arrivals carousels. It also included the supply of 16 check-in desks for standard baggage, EDS machines, metal detection frames and other baggage security equipment.
ALSTEF was awarded a contract to renovate the baggage handling system at the airport’s existing terminal during 2009-2010.
Maintenance facilities
The fixed-base operators (FBO) at the airport include United Aviation Services, West Africa Tours, Hadid International Services and Jetex Aero. The airport has a cargo storage capacity of 4.58 million tons.
Ground transportation
Public bus transport is available to and from the airport and city centre. Shuttle services are also available from the airport. Car rental offices belonging to Hertz and Locatour are located near the terminal. Taxis are located in front of the airport terminal.
