Carlyle Seeks Dakar Court Action Over Air Sénégal Lease Defaults

Two special purpose vehicles (SPVs) managed by Carlyle Aviation Partners have filed a case with the Commercial Court of Dakar, seeking the immediate repossession of four aircraft leased to Air Sénégal. The lessor is requesting enforcement of aircraft return orders after lease defaults.

The aircraft in question include two A319-100s (6V-AMA and 6V-AMB) and two A321-200s (6V-AMC and 6V-AMD), representing nearly 45% of Air Sénégal’s nine-aircraft fleet. According to ch-aviation data, Carlyle placed these aircraft with Air Sénégal between 2018 and 2020 via SPVs including SASOF III Aviation Ireland DAC and Aergen Aircraft Twenty Limited. The aircraft serve the carrier’s intra-African routes.

Carlyle terminated the leases in August 2024 due to unpaid lease obligations and previously secured a Senegalese court order grounding the aircraft. ADS-B data shows two remain operational, while 6V-AMS was grounded in September 2024, and 6V-AMB has been out for maintenance since March.

Air Sénégal reportedly owed Carlyle around USD10 million at the time of the initial court ruling. A settlement was later negotiated by the Senegalese government, though Carlyle recently told the court that outstanding debts amount to several billion Central African francs.

Attempts to enforce the court order at Dakar Blaise Diagne International Airport have been blocked by airline officials. Carlyle had earlier demanded an immediate USD18 million payment despite Air Sénégal having already paid over USD91 million since 2018. Air Sénégal disputes the remaining demands, calling them excessive. Carlyle Aviation Partners declined to comment; Air Sénégal has not responded.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com