The government of Algeria announced plans to launch a new air carrier for operating only domestic flights in order to reduce the pressure on Air Algerie. The measure should enable the state-owned airline to concentrate only on international operations.  

The idea to set up a new airline came after the government’s permission to resume domestic operations from October 4, 2020. The domestic flights were suspended due to COVID-19 related travel restrictions in March 2020.

“Air Algerie cannot cover all domestic airports. Creating a new company will allow optimal care for the transportation of citizens across the country,“ Lazhar Hani, the Transport Minister of Algeria, told the local media.

The Transport Minister considered that Algeria needed a greater involvement of the private sector in the country’s aviation industry. According to Hani, the changes in the country’s economics required a new political decision to open investment possibilities in the transport sector.

The government of Algeria wants Air Algerie to become more competitive internationally and to concentrate on international flights as well as new available routes. Meanwhile, the new airline could exceptionally focus on the expansion and operating of domestic routes.