The strategy of the Algerian airline Air Algérie is based on capitalizing on its long-standing routes and developing those connecting the main capitals of Africa, with a view to multiplying routes with southern countries, said the company’s CEO, Hamza Benhamouda.
In an interview with APS, he explained that the company’s African strategy is based on three pillars: capitalizing on historic routes such as Dakar, Abidjan, Nouakchott, Niamey, and Ouagadougou, connecting the regional network via Libreville, Cotonou, and Conakry, and developing international routes, with the relaunch of Johannesburg from January 15, 2026, and the development of routes to Addis Ababa, Lagos, and Accra.
He expressed his “deep gratitude to the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, for his strategic and constant support for Air Algérie and for the confidence he places in the company and its development capabilities.” He emphasized that the company is doing everything possible to “strengthen its role as a driver of economic and social development, both nationally and continentally.” Benhamouda pointed out that in 2025, the airline launched routes to Abuja and N’Djamena, operated via Douala. “Cameroon, Nigeria, and Chad have granted Air Algérie fifth freedom rights, allowing it to operate its first intra-African routes: Douala-Abuja-Douala and Douala-N’Djamena-Douala,” he said.
As for Europe, the CEO stressed that ” Air Algérie is continuing to develop its already dense European network, notably by adding a second airport in London, Stansted, in 2025. It has just launched service to Rotterdam in the Netherlands and plans to add new destinations in 2026, such as Birmingham in England and Budapest, via Vienna (which the airline already serves). Similarly, Air Algérie is set to take over the international program of the former Tassili Airlines (Domestic Airlines currently), namely the destinations Strasbourg and Nantes, and to strengthen the Roissy hub.” “Air Algérie has also entered into codeshare agreements to expand its network in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, such as the partnerships with Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways. “These agreements will enable Air Algérie to offer its customers destinations such as Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Muscat, Zanzibar, Athens, Dar Es Salaam, Bangkok, Seoul, Ankara, Trabzon, and Izmir via partner airlines. For the first time, these partner airlines have been granted permission to operate on the domestic network. This development will enable the airline to attract new customers, improve connectivity, make it easier for passengers to purchase tickets, and promote Algeria as a destination,” he continued.
According to Benhamouda, the acquisition of the first Airbus A330neo is “a first step in the fleet renewal process.” He explained that this process is necessary because the average age of the current fleet ranges from 18 to 20 years, which results in “more maintenance work with high maintenance costs.” The rejuvenation of the fleet should reduce pressure on maintenance activities and flight operations, which can lead to “a deterioration in service quality and disruptions of varying degrees to the work schedule of flight crews” subject to regulated duty times.
In addition, the maintenance division, which is in the process of being spun off, will become more efficient and will be able to focus on other customers. With the rejuvenation of the fleet, maintenance activity will be mainly dominated by scheduled tasks, leaving less room for unplanned (corrective) actions.
“The acquisition of a total of 34 aircraft by 2028 will enable the partial renewal of the fleets of both Air Algérie and its subsidiary, Domestic Airlines. This is intended to meet the growing demand for air transport on both the domestic and international networks and to achieve the socio-economic development objectives set out by the President of the Republic, in particular through the strengthening of regional connectivity,” recalled the CEO.
Benhamouda underlined Air Algérie’s role in developing Algiers International Airport as a hub. “Efficient flight scheduling and the opening of new routes, either alone or in partnership, will create the momentum needed to develop the Algiers hub,” he said, emphasizing “the contribution of all players in the ecosystem, including commerce, hospitality trade, ground transportation, and other services, to increase the hub’s attractiveness.”
