Guinean Court Orders Air Senegal To Pay Nearly $3,600 In Compensation To Customer

Air Senegal has been ordered to pay nearly 31 million Guinean francs (about $3,596) to Mohamed Bangoura, a Guinean citizen, following a court ruling in Conakry on December 4, 2024.

The case involved a dispute over a cancelled return flight between New York and Conakry, originally scheduled for September 19, 2024.

Bangoura sued the airline for fraud and breach of trust after the cancellation, claiming that the airline failed to provide sufficient notice. He demanded 500 million Guinean francs in compensation for the damages he suffered.

Air Senegal, however, argued that it had informed passengers of the cancellation via emails and SMS, offering partial refunds or rebooking options through Royal Air Maroc. The airline contended that the case should be treated as a civil matter, not a criminal one.

During the hearing on November 20, 2024, Air Senegal’s representative in Guinea, Mouhamadou Moustapha Mbaye, denied the allegations of fraud, and the case was postponed for further deliberation until November 27, 2024. Meanwhile, the airline counterclaimed, demanding 500 million Guinean francs in compensation for reputational damage caused by media coverage of the lawsuit.

In its final ruling, the Court of First Instance of Kaloum dismissed the criminal charges of fraud and breach of trust against the airline. However, it ruled in favour of Bangoura’s civil claim, ordering Air Senegal to pay $1,850 in compensation and 15 million Guinean francs for the damages he suffered.

The court also dismissed the airline’s counterclaim and directed the public prosecutor to further examine the case for any possible criminal wrongdoing. The ruling places the legal costs on the public treasury.

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