Algiers’ International Airport: Mr. Kaouach speaks on strong passengers influx, freight zone project, new infrastructures, preparations for summer period

BY: Hana Saada

ALGIERS- The movement of passengers at Algiers’ Houari-Boumediene International Airport recorded a strong increase in 2022 to 6.3 million travelers, against 2.1 million the year before, indicated Mohamed Salah Kaouach, CEO of the Algiers Airport’ Services and Infrastructure Management Company (SGSIA), in an interview with the APS agency published this Sunday, May 14, 2023.

Mr. Kaouach specified that, following the lifting of health restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which had plagued air traffic, the airport experienced a strong recovery in 2022, by nearly 200% compared to 2021.

Thus, the number of travelers during the past year represented 81% of that recorded before the pandemic, according to data from the first manager of Algiers airport, who predicted that “the level of activity before COVID-19 will be reached during the year 2023”.

A freight zone project

Asked, moreover, about the projects planned in air freight at the level of the airport enclosure, Mr. Kaouach announced a project for a freight zone (or cargo village) in parallel with another operation to redevelop the existing zone with a capacity of 25,000 tonnes/year, the study of which is in progress.

The “cargo village” project, which will extend over an area of 61 hectares and is intended in particular to help boost national exports, is “in the diagnostic phase of the land base”, he added.

For Mr. Kaouach, who took up his post in November 2022, the priority is to set up a new mode of airport management according to international standards while giving new life to the infrastructure so that it meets the requirements of the development of expected air traffic.

Asked, on the other hand, about the results recorded by the company in the wake of the strong recovery in activity in 2022, the CEO announced a turnover increase of more than 100% compared to that recorded in 2021; 7.8 billion DA.

Turnover up 109%

“This turnover marks an increase of 109% compared to that of 2021. On the other hand, it is up to 82% compared to that of 2019”, he detailed.

As for investments in infrastructure, they have experienced “appreciable levels”, underlined the same official, who reported a financial envelope of one (1) billion DA devoted in 2022.

These operations concerned, he said, the renewal of terminal 1 equipment and the acquisition of new equipment with the cutting-edge technologies.

In 2019, Algiers International Airport benefited from a new terminal with an area of 200,000 m2, equipped with 120 check-in counters, 12 baggage belts, 54 elevators, 37 escalators, 9 conveyor belts, and 21 walkways.

This terminal also has 42 parking stands for aircraft, 2 stations for A380 jumbo jets, and dozens of commercial and service premises, in addition to a 4,200-space car park with an automatic cash payment system.

Currently, the company is launching calls for tenders for the allocation and rental of unused commercial premises at terminals 1 and West, in parallel with the acceleration of work to build duty-free shops on the West terminal, according to its CEO, for whom “only the exchange authorization from the Bank of Algeria remains”.

Preparations for the summer period

In addition, and in anticipation of the summer season, the SGSIA is fine-tuning preparations for the implementation of new means capable of ensuring passenger comfort as well as the maintenance of existing equipment in the airport, which accommodates up to twenty airlines.

According to Mr. Kaouach, it is expected that during this summer period there will be “a significant flow of passengers”, taking into account, on the one hand, the statistical data for the first months of 2023 and, on the other hand, that this period will coincide with the Hajj season and the Arab Sports Games that Algeria will host from July 5 to 15.

In this vein, and for better fluidity in the processing of passengers, the SGSIA has been working in recent weeks to prepare access to the terminals, including the recent commissioning of the drop-off point, and the transfer of international airlines to the terminal dedicated to them.