In 1946,Compagnie Générale de Transports Aériens (CGTA) was established. It started operating flights betweenAlgeria andEurope on a charter basis in 1947. However, by the end of the decade, CGTA was operating scheduled flights servingAlgiers,Basel,Bône,Geneva,Marseille,Paris,Philippeville, andToulouse.[8] In 1952, three 34-seaterBretagnes joined a fleet of sevenDC-3s.[9] Meanwhile,Compagnie Air Transport (CAT), a subsidiary ofAir France andCompagnie Générale Transatlantique, had been formed in the late 1940s to connect Basel,Lyon, Marseille, Paris, and Toulouse with Algiers,Constantine, andOran. SeasonalLondon–Deauville, and London–Le Touquet flights were also undertaken. Following a drop in traffic after 1951, a merging partner was under consideration.[10]
CGTA, and CAT merged on 23 May 1953 to form theCompagnie Générale de Transports Aériens Air Algérie,[10][11] with a combined fleet that included oneBreguet 761, sixBretagnes, five DC-3s, and threeDC-4s.[12] Following the merger, Air Algérie commenced seasonal services toAjaccio,Clermont,Montpellier, andPerpignan. Furthermore,Switzerland was added to the regular schedule, a stop atPalma was performed on a weekly basis in partnership withAviaco, and most of the trans-Mediterranean routes were operated in a pool agreement with Air France, with the French carrier flying 54% of these services, and the remainder was left for Air Algérie. Flights to theCote d'Azur were added in the late 1950s.[10]
TwoNoratlas aircraft were acquired in July 1957, with a third entering the fleet in July the following year. In addition, it became the first privateFrenchcarrier to order theCaravelle in early 1958,[13] the first of which was handed over by the manufacturer in January 1960.[14][15] Following delivery, the aircraft was deployed on the Algiers–Paris route.[14][15] The type was also used to fly Paris–Bône and Paris–Oran services in the subsequent months.[16] By April 1960, Air Algérie's fleet consisted of three Caravelles, three DC-3s, ten DC-4s, twoLockheed L-749 Constellations, and three Noratlases.[16] The Caravelles were gradually deployed on the routes previously flown with the Constellations and the DC-4s, which were used for cargo services or sold.[10]
Two shipping companies,Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, andCompagnie de Navigation Mixte, were the owners of a majority stake (98%) in Air Algérie untilAlgeria gained its independence in 1962.[17][18]: 934 Following independence, theDélégation Générale in Algeria and Air France took over a controlling interest.[18]: 934 The financial structure changed in March 1963, when the shipping companies and Air France ceded a 31% interest,[18]: 934 and theAlgerian government took possession of 51% of the company assets, with the airline gaining flag carrier status.[19]: 1514 In April 1964, the government increased the participation in the airline to 57%.[20] That month, a contract was signed for the acquisition of twoIlyushin Il-18s aimed at operating the Algiers–Moscow service.[10][21] Air Algérie took delivery of just one of these aircraft, as the contract was later cancelled. The soleIl-18 in the fleet was used by the government.[10] There were eight DC-4s in the airline's fleet by April 1968.[17] That year, four ex-LufthansaConvair 440s were bought and converted to the 640 version. These aircraft came to replace the ageing DC-4s. Charter operations made up to 20% of the airline activities.[22]
By March 1970, the government was the owner of 83% of the company; at this time, aBoeing 737-200, five Caravelles, fourCV-640s, threeDC-3s and oneDC-4 were part of the fleet.[23]Société de Travail Aérien, a domestic carrier that had been founded in 1968, was taken over by Air Algérie in May 1972.[24][25] In August, threeFokker F27-400s were ordered for£2.5 million.[26] In September, with a secondBoeing 737 pending delivery, two more aircraft of the type —one of them a convertible model— were ordered.[27] That year, thegovernment of Algeria boosted its participation in the carrier to 100% when it acquired the remaining 17.74% stake held by Air France.[28] A new route toKarachi was inaugurated in 1975.[29] In November 1979, fourBoeing 727s were ordered in a deal worthUS$62 million.[30]
The first Boeing 767-300 was handed over by the aircraft manufacturer in mid-1990.[41] That year, the carrier entered a process of restructuring that would last until 1995,[42] following years of losses that totalledUS$64,000,000 (equivalent to $154,033,622 in 2024) only for 1990, with debts rising toUS$402 million after adevaluation of thelocal currency.[43] Restructuring seemingly bore fruit, as the company made a profit ofUS$14.5 million in 1992.[42]
Air Algérie andSonatrach createdTassili Airlines in 1998; Air Algérie's 49% shareholding in this airline was handed over to Sonatrach in 2005.[44][45]
Air Algérie became a limited company in 1997.[46] In 2006 its capital amounted to 57 billion dinars (about 560 million euros).[47]
The sales network comprises 150agencies inAlgeria and abroad, linked to the booking system and distributed through GDS to which Air Algérie has subscribed.Air Algérie is a Joint Stock Company (J.S.C) the registered capital of which is 43.000.000.000,00 DA.[48]
In November 2010, Air Algérie announced an investment of€400 million to renew its fleet, to be launched in 2011.[49]
The airline is loss-making. Its full Annual Report does not seem to be published regularly; figures disclosed for Air Algérie for recent years are shown below (for years ending 31 December):[50]
The Air Algérie logo was created in 1966 inAlgiers. On 21 June 2011, the company officially announced that the logo is aswallow. This bird is a national Algerian symbol. In 2023, the airline updated its logo, with a new typeface and an updated swallow.
In June 2007, Air Algérie inaugurated the Algiers–Montreal route.[76][77] Flights toBeijing were launched in February 2009.[78] As of September 2012[update], Air Algérie has a 46% market share on international routes; the airline was the leading operator for flights betweenAlgeria andSpain, and six of ten of its international routes with highest seat availability servedFrance.[79]
In October 2015, the carrier serves a domestic network that comprises 32 destinations within Algeria, including its hub atHouari Boumediene Airport, plus an international network that serve 43 more cities.[80]
As of December 2023[update], the airline serves 33 countries and 78 routes.[2][81]
TenNext Generation 737s—seven-800s and three-600s—were ordered in 1998 to replace the ageing Boeing 727-200s and Boeing 737-200s;[88][89][90] the737-600 commitment was later increased to include two more aircraft.[91] The firstBoeing 737-800 included in this order was handed over by the airframer in August 2000.[92][93][94] When the firstBoeing 737-600 was delivered to the company in May 2002, Air Algérie became the fifth airline worldwide in operating the type.[95][96]
FiveAirbus A330-200s were ordered in late 2003, along with nineATR72-500s—six of them taken over from and order previously placed byKhalifa Airways. The former type would act as a replacement for the two Airbus A310s, aBoeing 747-200 and threeBoeing 767-300s, while the latter would replace the seven-strongFokker F27 fleet.[97][98] Four more ATR72-500s were ordered in 2009 at a cost of approximatelyUS$82 million,[99][100] with the first of these 66-seater fourturboprop machines being phased-in in February 2010.[101] Also in 2009, during theDubai Airshow, Air Algérie announced the purchase of seven additionalBoeing 737-800s.[102][103] In April 2011, the fourth aircraft from this order became the 50th Boeing jetliner delivered to the company.[104]
In November 2012, the airline announced an investment worth€600 million for the incorporation of eight aircraft, two of them freighters, between 2012 and 2016.[105] Air Algérie had itsIOSA certification renewed in December 2012, for a period of two years.[106][107] In February 2013, unofficial announcements disclosed the airline has ordered three additionalAirbus A330-200s, five additionalBoeing 737-800s. It was also reported the carrier's intention of deploying the newA330s on new routes toJohannesburg,New York,Shanghai andSão Paulo.[108]
The airline launched in April 2013 a tender for the acquisition of 14 passenger and two cargo aircraft.[109] Plans for the purchase of new equipment worthUS$762 million (€556 million), including three 250-seater airframes to replace the ageingBoeing 767s, were disclosed again in December 2013;[73] already in November, Air Algérie signed aletter of intent with Airbus for threeAirbus A330-200s at the2013 Dubair Air Show.[110][111][112] In January 2014, three 68-seaterATR 72-600s were ordered,[113] and a commitment for eightBoeing 737-800s, valued atUS$724 million at list prices, was signed with Boeing.[114][115] TheATR order made Air Algérie the largest operator of the type withinAfrica.[116] In May the same year, twoBoeing 737-700Cs were ordered forUS$152 million.[117] Air Algérie's firstATR 72-600 was handed over to the company in December 2014.[118]
On 19 May 1960 at 9:46UTC, a mid-air collision occurred 8 mi (13 km) away from Paris-Orly Airport, involving an Air AlgérieSud Aviation Caravelle jetliner (registered F-OBNI) on a scheduled passenger flight from Algiers, and a privately ownedStampe SV.4biplane (F-BDEV). The Stampe was completely destroyed upon impact, killing the sole pilot on board. The impact and the propeller blades of the biplane tore open the cabin roof of the Caravelle, and both of its jet enginesflamed out due to ingested debris but were restarted almost immediately, allowing for a safe landing. There was one fatality amongst the 32 passengers and 7 crew members of the Air Algérie flight, and the aircraft was later repaired.[142]
On 26 July 1969 a fire broke out on board an Air AlgérieSud Aviation Caravelle (registered 7T-VAK), which likely had been caused by an electric malfunction. The aircraft was on a chartered passenger flight fromMarseille toBiskra, and the pilots tried for an emergency landing atOued Irara – Krim Belkacem Airport, but the plane was quickly engulfed by flames and crashed, killing all 30 passengers and 7 crew members.[144]
On 24 January 1979 at around 19:40 local time, an Air AlgérieAérospatiale N 262 (registered 7T-VSU) crashed 15 kilometres short of the runway ofBoudghene Ben Ali Lotfi Airport, resulting in the death of 14 out of the 20 passengers on board. The three crew members survived the accident, which was blamed on the malfunction of an altimeter (as the approach was performed too low), coinciding with pilot error and fatigue.[145]
On 6 March 2003 at 15:15 local time,Air Algérie Flight 6289, a Boeing 737-200 (registered 7T-VEZ) on a domestic flight fromTamanrasset to Algiers viaGhardaïa, crashed shortly after take-off fromAguenar – Hadj Bey Akhamok Airport because of an engine failure, killing 96 passengers and all 6 crew members on board. There was only one survivor.[147]
On 13 August 2006 at ca 20:15 local time,Air Algérie Flight 2208 (aLockheed L-100 Hercules registered 7T-VHG) crashed nearPiacenza inItaly, resulting in the death of the three crew members. The aircraft had been on a flight from Algiers toFrankfurt when a problem with the autopilot occurred, resulting in the pilots losing control of the plane.[148]
On 8 June 1949, the right mainlanding gear of an Air AlgérieDouglas C-47 Skytrain (registered F-BCYO) collapsed upon landing atLyon-Bron Airport, following a cargo flight fromAlgiers. During the crash landing, the aircraft was destroyed, but the three crew members survived.[152]
On 30 October 1951, an Air AlgérieSud-Ouest Bretagne (registered F-OAIY) caught fire and was subsequently destroyed atParis-Orly Airport, following the sudden collapse of the right main landing gear during take-off run. All 30 passengers and 4 crew members on board could be saved.[153]
On 25 July 1991, the nosegear of an Air AlgérieFokker F27 Friendship (registered 7T-VRM) collapsed during a hard landing atIn Guezzam Airport, damaging the aircraft beyond repair.[157]
On 2 August 1996, an Air AlgérieBoeing 737-200 (registered 7T-VED) overran the runway atTlemcen Airport in an attempt to abort the take-off for a scheduled flight to Algiers. There were no fatalities among the 100 passengers and 6 crew members on board, even though the aircraft was substantially damaged.[158]
Another runway overshot involving an Air Algérie Boeing 737-200 (this time 7T-VEH) occurred on 31 January 1999. Upon landing atConstantine Airfield in unusual snowy conditions following a flight fromParis, the aircraft was severely damaged when it overshot the runway and struck a heap of snow. There were no casualties among the 92 passengers and 7 crew members.[159]
On 18 March 2006 at 10:30 local time, the right main landing gear of an Air AlgérieBoeing 737-600 (registered 7T-VJQ) collapsed upon landing in poor weather conditions atSeville Airport following a flight fromOran. Approximately 45 out of the 101 passengers and 6 crew members on board were injured.[160]
On 14 March 2008, an Air AlgérieBoeing 737-800 (registered 7T-VKA) that was operating Flight 1143 fromParis toSétif with 120 people on board suffered extensive damage during a hard landing atAin Arnat Airport.[161]
On 31 August 1970, three passengers armed with pistols andmolotov cocktails hijacked an Air AlgérieConvair CV-640 on a scheduled domestic flight fromAnnaba toAlgiers and demanded the pilots to head toAlbania instead. During a fuel stop inBrindisi, eleven passengers were allowed to leave the aircraft. As the aircraft was denied landing permission by the Albanian authorities, it diverted toDubrovnik in thenYugoslavia instead, where the perpetrators could be arrested.[162]
When an Air AlgérieBoeing 737-200 landed atHouari Boumedienne Airport on 31 March 1991 (during theAlgerian Civil War) following a scheduled passenger flight fromBéchar, a passenger threatened to detonate ahand grenade and insisted on being allowed to have a political statement on live national television, concerning theplanned national election. The demand was rejected, and the hijacker was persuaded to give up and set free the 53 other persons on board.[163]
A similar hijacking occurred on 13 November 1994 on board an Air AlgérieFokker F27 Friendship (registered 7T-VRK) during a flight from Algiers toOuargla. The aircraft with 42 occupants was forced to divert toPalma de Mallorca Airport, where the three perpetrators surrendered.[164]
On 25 July 1996 at around 9:00 local time, an Air AlgérieBoeing 767-300 with 232 persons on board was hijacked atOran Es Sénia Airport by a man who demanded to be flown to theUnited States, rather than to Algiers where the aircraft had been scheduled to leave for. After more than four hours of negotiation he surrendered to the local authorities.[165]
On 19 January 2003, Air Algérie Flight 6025 fromConstantine toAlgiers was hijacked shortly after take-off by a man who demanded the pilots fly theBoeing 737-800 toNorth Korea. The flight continued to Algiers, though, where the perpetrator could be restrained by police forces storming the aircraft. None of the 24 other passengers and 6 crew members were injured.[166]
On 19 August 2003, an Air AlgérieBoeing 737-800 was hijacked by a mentally-ill passenger right after take-off fromHouari Boumedienne Airport, who threatened to blow up the aircraft when the crew would not divert toGeneva (rather than toLille as the flight was scheduled to). The crew carried out an allegedly necessary fuel stop atOran Es Sénia Airport, where the man could be arrested.[167]
^"Our BranchesArchived 10 September 2016 at theWayback Machine." Air Algérie. Retrieved on 10 February 2011. English: "HeadQuarters Address AIR ALGÉRIE 1, PLACE MAURICE AUDIN ALGER- ALGÉRIE" French: "Direction Générale SIÉGE social AIR ALGÉRIE 1, PLACE MAURICE AUDIN ALGER- ALGÉRIE"
^"World Airline Directory."Flight International. 30 March 1985.33Archived 29 July 2013 at theWayback Machine." Retrieved on 17 June 2009. "Head Office: 1 Place Maurice Audin, Immeuble El-Djazair, Algiers, Algeria."
^ab"Brevities".Flight: 365. 21 March 1958.Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved13 January 2013.
^abcd"Air commerce".Flight. 5 February 1960.Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved18 January 2013.Pictured outside the Sud factory and control tower at Toulouse is the first Carayelle for Air Algerie, delivery of which was accepted early last month. It has been in service for nearly five weeks.
^abc"Brevities".Flight.77 (2655): 163. 29 January 1960.Archived from the original on 21 May 2015.The first Caravelle for Air Algerie was accepted by the president and general manager of the airline, M Jean Richard-Deshais, at Toulouse on 6 January. The aircraft entered service on the route between Algiers and Paris on 12 January.
^"Air transport".Flight International.102 (3311): 267. 24 August 1972.Archived from the original on 24 December 2013.Air Algerie has ordered three F.27-400 freighters for Hfl 21 million (£2.5 million).
^"World news – Two Algerian 737s".Flight International.102 (3315): 383. 21 September 1972.Archived from the original on 24 December 2013.Air Algerie has ordered two more Advanced Boeing 737s —its third and fourth— for delivery in May and November next year. The first of these will be a -200C convertible model; the other, a passenger model. Air Algerie will take delivery of its second 737 next month.
^"Airliner market".Flight International.116 (3686): 1551. 10 November 1979.Archived from the original on 24 December 2013.Air Algerie has ordered four Boeing 727s for delivery in March 1980 and March 1981, at a total cost of $62 million.
^"World news".Flight International.119 (3764): 1992. 27 June 1981.Archived from the original on 11 December 2011.This first (of three) Air Algerie Lockheed L-100-30s is due to be delivered this month.
^"Aircraft News-Dec. 22, 2014".Air Transport World. 22 December 2014. Archived fromthe original on 22 December 2014.ATR delivered its 200th ATR-600 to Air Algerie. The first of three ATR 72-600s ordered earlier this year will join Air Algerie's existing fleet of 12 ATR 72-500s.
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102 billion Algerian dinar (DA)
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