Air Algérie’s Ambitious Hub Project in Algiers Shows Promising Beginnings

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

ALGIERS- Air Algérie, the national airline of Algeria, has embarked on an ambitious project to establish Algeria as a crucial transit point between Africa and the rest of the world through its hub at Algiers Airport. Over the past few months, the airline has undergone significant restructuring, expanding its destination network in Africa, particularly in West Africa.

Amine Andaloussi, the Director of Communication at Air Algérie, explained, “The idea was to strengthen the airline’s presence in Africa, especially West Africa, and provide passengers from this region with a transit point to the rest of the world, particularly Europe.”

In 2023, Air Algérie focused on reinforcing its position in the African continent, increasing its flights to West African destinations such as Abidjan, Ouagadougou, Niamey, Dakar, and introducing a direct flight to Douala. The airline now operates a total of seventeen flights per week to these destinations, targeting passengers in transit to Europe.

To achieve this goal, Air Algérie implemented a commercial strategy emphasizing competitive pricing compared to its rivals, notably Royal Air Maroc. The suspension of Air France flights to Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso created an opportunity for Air Algérie to capture travelers during these periods.

However, Air Algérie’s ambitions extend beyond West Africa. In 2023, the national carrier launched routes to Addis Ababa and Johannesburg. For these long-haul flights, Air Algérie is targeting a different customer segment. Despite facing tough competition from Gulf carriers (Qatar Airways and Emirates) and Turkish Airlines, Air Algérie positioned itself with lower fares, making it a viable option for cost-conscious travelers.

Despite a modest start for direct flights like Algiers to Johannesburg, recent weeks have shown a significant increase in passenger demand. An official at Algiers Airport commented, “This route has achieved a higher-than-expected occupancy rate, considering its challenging beginnings.”

Air Algérie’s resurgence in Africa, where it had faced competition from African and Asian carriers, has resulted in considerable passenger traffic on African routes, encouraging the airline in its vision for the Algiers hub.

Apart from competitive pricing, Air Algérie offers direct flights from Algiers to Europe, Asia, and Canada for passengers arriving from African countries. Amine Andaloussi highlighted, “Algeria, with its geographical positioning, is an interesting transit point for those traveling to Europe and Canada, avoiding a detour through Gulf countries.”

In addition to pricing, in-flight services and low baggage loss rates are crucial factors for passengers in transit who endure long flight hours. Andaloussi noted that the Algiers hub is in its early stages, allowing for considerable growth.

Looking ahead, Air Algérie anticipates the arrival of fifteen new aircraft, including eight Boeing 737 MAX 9 for medium-haul flights, five Airbus A330-900, and two A350-1000 for long-haul flights. The delivery of these aircraft is expected to commence in 2025, gradually expanding the airline’s capabilities. In the interim, Air Algérie recently leased three Airbus A330s to bolster its fleet, considering the widening destination network.

Upon receiving the fifteen new aircraft, Air Algérie aims to materialize its plans to launch new routes to Europe (Amsterdam), Asia (Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur), the Americas (La Havana, Caracas), and the United States, with the direct Algiers-New York route making significant progress.

Change in Leadership at Air Algérie’s Maintenance Division

In a notable development, changes have been made to the leadership of the Aircraft Maintenance and Repair Division at Air Algérie. Ali Belbey has been appointed as the Head of the Maintenance and Aircraft Repair Division, a critical department responsible for ensuring the airworthiness of the airline’s fleet.

The expansion of Air Algérie’s destination network, comprising 56 aircraft, has posed challenges, leading to the temporary leasing of three large Airbus aircraft. This move is seen as a stopgap measure until the delivery of new aircraft from Airbus and Boeing begins in 2025.

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