Bamako's Modibo Keita International Airport is Mali's main airport located approximately south of downtown Bamako, the capital of Mali in West Africa. It is managed by Aéroports du Mali . Its operations are overseen by the Malian Ministry of Equipment and Transport.HistoryBamako-Sénou Airport was opened to traffic in 1974. The airport was upgraded between 2007 and 2012 in a $181 million USD project funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a United States foreign aid agency.StatisticsPassenger traffic steadily increased in the early 2000s. Government figures show 403,380 passengers in 1999, 423,506 in 2003, 486,526 in 2004, and 516,000 in 2005. In 2006 it was predicted to reach over 900,000 by 2015 under a low (4%) yearly growth rate scenario.Total air traffic at BKO increased by 12.4% in 2007 and 14% in 2008. Most of this increase came in passenger transport, with the number of passengers served increasing by 20% in 2007 and 17% in 2008. Twenty-seven airline carriers operated weekly or better at BKO in the 2007–2008 period. This continued growth was offset by cargo flights' decline of 16.75% in 2007, and 3.93% in 2008.Accidents and incidentsOn 24 July 1971, Douglas C-47A 6V-AAP of Air Ivoire crashed into a hill shortly after take-off. The aircraft was operating a scheduled passenger flight. All six people on board were killed.