Senegal's president opened a flagship new airport on Thursday seen as the central plank of government plans to boost the economy and create a west African regional hub.

President Macky Sall toured the brand new Blaise Diagne International Airport accompanied by several west African heads of state in the town of Diass, 47 kilometres (29 miles) from the capital of Dakar, while a plane from new airline Air Senegal is expected make the first symbolic takeoff this afternoon.

Sall's supporters gathered in their thousands to celebrate the opening, banging drums and chanting slogans outside, according to AFP journalists at the scene. The airport will be a key test of Senegal's economic fortunes as the president seeks re-election in 2019.

Work began in 2007 on the 645 million-euro ($767 million) airport under former president Abdoulaye Wade, but unforeseen problems and a change of construction company have repeatedly delayed the project and doubled anticipated costs.