NORTH AFRICA
Algeria
Air Algérie and a large domestic network serve one of Africa's biggest countries, with airport upgrades centred on Algiers.
Market overview
Algeria is a large but still under-served market, and the state airline is at its centre. Air Algérie carried about 8.8 million passengers in 2025, up 11%, and aims for about 9.8 million in 2026 across all 36 of the country's airports. It is in the middle of its biggest fleet renewal in years. It has secured 15 new aircraft since 2023 (Boeing 737 MAX, Airbus A330neo and A350), its first A330neos arrived from November 2025, and 16 ATR 72-600 turboprops for domestic and Saharan routes start arriving in 2026. In March 2026 it ordered 10 more 737 MAX 8s, five due from July 2026 and five in 2027, and it leased 10 aircraft in 2025 to fill gaps. The long-term plan covers about 60 new aircraft. Algiers is being positioned as a hub linking Africa, Europe and the Gulf. For suppliers, a fleet with several new types means demand for type training, MRO tooling and approvals, spares and airport ground equipment.
At a glance
- Main hubs
- Algiers Houari Boumediene; Oran Ahmed Ben Bella; Constantine Mohamed Boudiaf
- Flag carrier
- Air Algérie
- Regulator
- Direction de l'Aviation Civile et de la Météorologie (DACM), Ministry of Transport
- Airport operator
- SGSIA (Algiers airport); EGSA Alger and EGSA Oran (regional airports)
- Training body
- [Air Algérie training centre, to confirm]
National airline fleet renewalnew Algiers terminallarge domestic and Saharan network
Key facts
- Air Algérie carried about 8.8 million passengers in 2025, up 11% (Mar 2026).
- 2026 target: about 9.8 million passengers, serving all 36 airports in the country (Mar 2026).
- 10 Boeing 737 MAX 8s ordered on 26 March 2026: five from July 2026 and five in 2027.
- The 2023 order covered 15 aircraft: eight 737-9 MAX, five A330-900s and two A350-1000s (Mar 2026).
- 16 ATR 72-600s on order, with deliveries from 2026. The long-term renewal plan covers about 60 new aircraft (Mar 2026).
Key figures
Passengers carried (2023)
7,160,662
2023 · rank 30 of 52
2019–2023
Air freight, million tonne-km (2023)
9
2023 · rank 43 of 52
2019–2023
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0).
Did you know
Africa's largest country by area, so domestic flights link very distant cities.
Typical bottlenecks in Algeria
- Bringing new aircraft types into service — Fleet & asset management · Airworthiness & CAMO
- Restructuring or modernising an airline — Airline strategy & business plans
- Raising airport operations to international standards — Airports & ground operations · Regulation & certification
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