Air Algérie SpA (الخطوط الجوية الجزائرية) is the national flag carrier airline of Algeria. Based in Algiers, the airline flies 13 Next-Generation Boeing 737s. It is the fourth largest air carrier in Africa after South African Airways, Egyptair and Royal Air Maroc. (List of largest airlines in Africa).

Air Algérie operates scheduled international services to 39 destinations in 28 countries in Europe, North America, Africa, and the Middle East. It operates domestic services to 32 airports.

Air Algérie is in the process of becoming a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance by late 2008 or 2009. Bilateral codesharing, frequent flyer and lounge agreements with each of the SkyTeam carriers must be in place before it can meet the alliance's membership requirements.

Air Algérie was the first air carrier in Africa to use electronic ticketing, with the elimination of the paper ticket.

History

Air Algérie was founded in 1947 as the Société Algérienne de Construction Aéronautique (SACA)-Air Algérie. On May 23, 1953, it merged with the Compagnie Air Transport to form the Compagnie Générale de Transports Aériens (CGTA)-Air Algérie. Following independence from France in 1962 the company become Air Algérie (Entreprise Nationale d'exploitation des Services Aériens). In 1963 the Algerian government took possession of 51% of the company assets, increasing its stake to 83% in 1970 and to 100% and nationalisation in 1974, after acquisition of the remaining 17% stake held by Air France. It employs 9,775 staff (at March 2007). Air Algerie is a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organization.

Air Algérie is a joint-stock company SPA with a capital of 29,000,000,000 DA. The airline covers a network of 96,000 km. More than 3,000,000 passengers and nearly 20,000 tonnes of cargo are carried every year. In 2003, the number of daily flights in peak periods was 120. Air Algérie has generated almost five billion available seat-kilometres and performed 3.3 billion revenue passenger- kilometres. The sales network comprises 150 agencies in Algeria and abroad, linked to the booking system and distributed through GDS to which Air Algérie has subscribed.

Organization

Air Algérie is a joint stock company. The shares are totally owned by the Algerian state. Its Board of Directors is headed by Abdelwahid Bouabdallah, Chairman and Managing Director.

Air Algérie performs the following activities:

• Passenger carriage
• Cargo carriage

Air Algérie delivers:

• Air transport functions such as flight operations, maintenance, transport and commercial functions.
• Supporting activities such as logistics and catering , as well as the coordinating activities such as finance, personnel management, legal affairs, computers and telecommunications.

as well as charter services in support of oil exploration and the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca. Its main base is Houari Boumedienne Airport, Algiers.

Destinations

New routes

• Algiers-Beijing begins in 2008, using Airbus A330-200 aircraft. Air Algerie plans to introduce non-stop service between Algiers and Beijing Capital International Airport.

Fleet

Passenger