Air Algérie (AH, Algiers) and Tassili Airlines (SF, Algiers) are set to enjoy further government protection after Algeria's Minister of Transport Amar Ghoul last week rejected calls to open the country's airspace up to private carriers.
Speaking in Algiers at a forum organized by Radio Chaine 1, Ghoul said any shift in government policy would require an extensive study into the competitiveness of the two state-backed carriers. Thereafter, Algiers would also have to consider protecting the country's national interests.
"The Government is poised to define specifications, measures, and regulations thereunder, before opening its airspace to private players," he said.
Successive governments have rejected not only the immediate prospect of a more liberalized domestic playing field, but also that of Open Skies with Europe claiming any such treaties would ultimately put the two carriers under duress. However, critics have pointed to neighbouring Morocco where despite initial fears that its 2006 Open Skies treaty with Europe would result in the demise of Royal Air Maroc (AT, Casablanca Mohamed V), RAM is now set to post a profit this year following successive fiscal losses.
In a bid to strengthen Air Algérie's position and turn it into a profitable institution, Algiers has announced a drastic restructuring programme aimed at modernizing and upgrading the carrier's operational hierarchy as well as services.
"As from 2015, there will be the implementation of new measures including: recommendations and decisions on regulatory aspects, management and restructuring of the company, in addition to maintenance, supervision and coordination between the various subsidiaries of the company," Ghoul said.
Air Algérie plans to exploit Algiers's geographical position as an ideal hub not only between Europe and Africa, but also between North America and Africa. With its existing services to Montréal Trudeau and its growing West African network, the carrier now plans to open up flights to Djibouti, Addis Ababa International, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo, N'Djamena, Abuja, and Lagos.
