Un nouvel envol pour la compagnie nationale

A new takeoff for the national airline

Air Algérie begins modernizing its fleet

The first aircraft acquired as part of the Air Algérie fleet renewal and expansion program will land on November 12 at Algiers airport. The announcement was made Tuesday evening by the CEO of the national airline, Hamza Benhamouda, on the sidelines of the inaugural flight of the new Algiers-N’Djamena line.

This aircraft, a latest generation Airbus A330-900, marks the effective launch of a vast investment program initiated in 2023, which provides for the acquisition of eighteen new aircraft. “The arrival of this first aircraft symbolizes the start of a new era for Air Algérie,” said Mr. Benhamouda, stressing that three other A330-900s will join the fleet before the end of 2025.
The year 2026 will see, for its part, the receipt of new aircraft of the same model, in parallel with the first deliveries of the ATR 72-600 intended for the Domestic Airlines subsidiary. The latter, recently created, will have the mission of boosting the internal network and strengthening service to remote regions.
From 2027, Air Algérie will also begin to receive its Boeing 737 Max-9s, while other orders are being studied in order to accelerate the company’s capacity increase. “The more we strengthen our resources, the more we will be able to expand our network in an orderly and efficient manner,” declared the CEO, specifying that this strategy is part of a progressive and controlled development approach.

Heading for Africa
and international
In terms of the network, Air Algérie is pursuing an ambitious expansion strategy, in line with the national policy of strengthening the economic presence on the African continent. The new Algiers-N’Djamena line, inaugurated this Tuesday, illustrates this orientation.
It will now connect the Algerian and Chadian capitals, twice a week, via Douala (Cameroon). From next fall, the connection will be extended to Addis Ababa, increasing the frequency to four weekly flights. “We plan to double the number of African destinations by 2028 to reach around twenty lines,” said Mr. Benhamouda, citing in particular the future openings to Libreville (Gabon) and Luanda (Angola). At the same time, Air Algérie is preparing the launch of new international services.
Rotterdam (Netherlands) and Guangzhou (China) will be among the next destinations to join the network, with two flights per week and one flight per week respectively. The development plan also includes the strengthening of already existing lines to Beijing, Doha, Egypt and Turkey, as well as the study of new seasonal routes to Southeast Asia for next summer. On the American continent, the company plans to expand its presence in Canada beyond Montreal.

A balance between expansion
and national mission
The CEO insisted that this international expansion will not be to the detriment of the domestic network or the civic role of Air Algérie. “Our company has transported the Algerian diaspora for several decades and will continue to do so in the best conditions,” he said, reaffirming the company’s commitment to supporting the connectivity of the northern and southern regions, as well as local tourism.
The creation of Domestic Airlines and the order for 16 ATR 72-600s demonstrate, according to him, a clear desire to consolidate the territorial network and support regional economic dynamics. As a reminder, Air Algérie launched a vast program to modernize its fleet in 2023, including eight Boeing 737 Max-9s and eight Airbus A330-900s, before increasing the order to ten European aircraft. In 2025, the company also acquired sixteen ATR 72-600 aircraft to strengthen its domestic connections.
This action plan, which extends until 2035, provides for new acquisitions over the years in order to respond to traffic growth and improve the company’s international competitiveness. “We are currently working on several additional order projects. They will be announced as soon as they materialize,” concluded Mr. Benhamouda.
Djamila Sai