Air Algerie (ICAO: AYN) is the flag carrier of Algeria, connecting the nation domestically and internationally across several continents.
Air Algerie's roots trace back to Compagnie Générale de Transports Aériens (CGTA), established by the French colonial government in 1947. CGTA later merged with Compagnie Air Transport (CAT) in 1953 to form Compagnie Générale de Transports Aériens Air Algérie. Following Algeria's independence in 1962, the Algerian government progressively acquired a controlling interest, eventually becoming the sole owner by 1972.
The airline's primary hub and operational base is Houari Boumediene Airport (ALG) in Algiers. It also utilizes Ahmed Ben Bella Airport (ORN) in Oran and Mohamed Boudiaf International Airport (CZL) in Constantine as secondary operational bases. Air Algerie operates a mixed fleet primarily consisting of ATR turboprops, Boeing 737s (including 737-600, 737-700, and 737-800 variants), and Airbus A330s for its long-haul operations. The airline has plans for significant fleet modernization and expansion, with firm orders for Boeing 737 MAX 9s, Airbus A330-900s, and Airbus A350-1000s, with deliveries expected to begin from 2025.
Air Algerie maintains an extensive route network, serving 33 domestic destinations within Algeria and 42 to 48 international destinations across 28 to 30 countries. These international routes span Europe, North America (e.g., Montreal), Africa, Asia (e.g., Beijing), and the Middle East. While Air Algerie is a member of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and the Arab Air Carriers Organization, it is not currently a full member of any major global airline alliances like Star Alliance, SkyTeam, or Oneworld, though it has expressed intentions to join SkyTeam and has begun aligning its agreements for potential future membership. On its long-haul Airbus A330-200s, the airline offers a three-class layout: Business, Premium Economy, and Economy.
Traveler reviews for Air Algerie present a mixed, often polarized, picture of experiences.
What Travelers Love:
Common Complaints:
Overall sentiment suggests that while Air Algerie can offer a decent onboard experience on its newer aircraft with good catering, these positives are frequently overshadowed by significant operational inconsistencies, particularly concerning punctuality, ground services, and the overall customer service experience. The airline holds a 3-Star Airline rating from Skytrax, which notes staff service as a primary weakness.
Air Algerie's safety record includes several notable incidents with fatalities in its history. These include the Air Algérie Flight 6289 crash in March 2003, which killed 97 passengers and 6 crew members (with one survivor), and the Air Algérie Flight 5017 crash in July 2014, which resulted in 116 fatalities. More recently, in August 2024, an Air Algerie Boeing 737-800 experienced a loss of cabin pressure, and in September 2022, another Boeing 737-800 was involved in a loss of separation incident on a runway.
In terms of regulatory compliance, Air Algerie possesses the IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) certification. In 2010, the airline was subjected to "intensified" ramp inspections by European Commission regulators due to concerns regarding onboard cargo safety, airworthiness, aircraft operations, and flight-crew licensing. However, the European Commission did not place Air Algerie on the EU safety blacklist.
The average age of Air Algerie's fleet is approximately 17.2 years as of November 2025, with variations across aircraft types; for instance, Airbus A330s average 17.1 years, and Boeing 737 NGs/Max aircraft average 16.9 years. While some older aircraft in the fleet have drawn criticism from travelers regarding their condition and cleanliness, some passenger reviews also suggest a high level of maintenance is carried out on the planes despite their age.
Overall safety assessments provide conflicting views. AirlineRatings.com currently gives Air Algerie a safety rating of 6 out of 7 stars (updated September 26, 2024), indicating a good safety standing based on their criteria. However, another ranking from February 2024 by The Maghreb Times reported a safety rating of 1 out of 7 stars, placing it 345th globally. No specific safety awards or recognitions were found in the available data.
| Route | Destination | Flights | Distance | Aircraft | Last Seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GUW → SCO |
Aktau
Aktau
|
139 | 228 mi | A320 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| CIT → NQZ |
Nursultan Nazarbayev Int'l
Astana
|
134 | 606 mi | A320 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| SCO → GUW |
Atyrau
Atyrau
|
129 | 228 mi | A320 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| NQZ → ALA |
Almaty
Almaty
|
90 | 591 mi | A320 | Sep 6, 2025 |
| CIT → ALA |
Almaty
Almaty
|
83 | 389 mi | A320 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| GUW → CIT |
Shymkent
Shymkent (Chimkent)
|
64 | 925 mi | A320 | Dec 4, 2025 |
| KUT → GUW |
Atyrau
Atyrau
|
60 | 572 mi | A320 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| HSA → NQZ |
Nursultan Nazarbayev Int'l
Astana
|
60 | 552 mi | A320 | Dec 11, 2025 |
| HSA → ALA |
Almaty
Almaty
|
59 | 434 mi | A320 | Dec 11, 2025 |
| KZO → NQZ |
Nursultan Nazarbayev Int'l
Astana
|
54 | 515 mi | A320 | Dec 8, 2025 |
| GUW → NQZ |
Nursultan Nazarbayev Int'l
Astana
|
52 | 927 mi | A320 | Dec 4, 2025 |
| SCO → NQZ |
Nursultan Nazarbayev Int'l
Astana
|
51 | 1069 mi | A320 | Dec 3, 2025 |
| KUT → NQZ |
Nursultan Nazarbayev Int'l
Astana
|
45 | 1495 mi | A320 | Nov 27, 2025 |
| NQZ → CIT |
Shymkent
Shymkent (Chimkent)
|
44 | 606 mi | A320 | Sep 6, 2025 |
| KGF → ALA |
Almaty
Almaty
|
42 | 471 mi | A320 | Dec 11, 2025 |
| SCO → AKX |
Aktyubinsk
Aktyubinsk
|
39 | 527 mi | A320 | Dec 3, 2025 |
| ALA → NQZ |
Nursultan Nazarbayev Int'l
Astana
|
39 | 591 mi | A320 | Oct 3, 2025 |
| KUT → SCO |
Aktau
Aktau
|
38 | 450 mi | A320 | Nov 27, 2025 |
| SCO → ALA |
Almaty
Almaty
|
37 | 1295 mi | A320 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| KUT → ALA |
Almaty
Almaty
|
37 | 1744 mi | A320 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| GUW → KUT |
Kopitnari
Kutaisi
|
36 | 572 mi | A320 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| GUW → ALA |
Almaty
Almaty
|
34 | 1250 mi | A320 | Nov 26, 2025 |
| CIT → GUW |
Atyrau
Atyrau
|
32 | 925 mi | A320 | Nov 28, 2025 |
| SCO → CIT |
Shymkent
Shymkent (Chimkent)
|
30 | 932 mi | A320 | Dec 3, 2025 |
| PLX → NQZ |
Nursultan Nazarbayev Int'l
Astana
|
29 | 387 mi | A320 | Dec 2, 2025 |
Airline statistics are based on flight route observations collected from FlightAware AeroAPI and other sources. Flight counts represent observed operations, not scheduled frequencies. Route data is continuously updated as new flight information becomes available.