Air Algérie

Air Algérie

File:Air Algerie Logo.svg
IATA ICAO Call sign AH DAH AIR ALGERIE
Founded	March 15, 1947 (1947-03-15)
Hubs	Houari Boumediene Airport
Focus cities	Oran Es Sénia Airport
Frequent-flyer program	Air Algérie Plus
Subsidiaries	Air Algérie Cargo
Fleet size	43
Destinations	68
Parent company	Sonatrach
Headquarters	1, Place Maurice Audin, Algiers, Algeria
Key people	Salah Boultif (Director General and CEO)
Revenue	€1.73 billion (2011)
Net income	€736.2 million (2011)
Website	www.airalgerie.dz

Air Algérie SpA (Arabic: الخطوط الجوية الجزائرية, transliterated:Al-Khuṭūṭ al-Jawwiyyah al-Jazā’iria;, Berber: Aeriverdan idzayriyen) is the national flag carrier airline of Algeria, with its head office in the Immeuble El-Djazair in Algiers. With flights operating from Houari Boumedienne Airport, Air Algérie operates scheduled international services to 39 destinations in 28 countries in Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, as well as domestic services to 32 airports.

Air Algérie is in the process of aligning its codeshare agreements, frequent flyer programs, and airport lounge agreements with each of the SkyTeam carriers in order to meet SkyTeam's membership application requirements.

In July 2012, the Government of Algeria decided to invest 738 million dollars for international growth. Air Algerie reported that she applied to join Star Alliance or SkyTeam and also began working in partnership with Lufthansa. [1] [2]

History

Formation and early years

Lockheed Constellation of Air Algerie at Paris Orly Airport in 1957

Sud Aviation Caravelle of Air Algérie in January 1963

Boeing 737-200 of Air Algérie at Paris Orly Airport in January 1971

Airbus A300-B4 of Air Algérie at Paris Orly Airport in March 1982

Boeing 747-100 of Air Algérie in April 1972

Boeing 727-200 of Air Algérie in September 1981

Boeing 707 of Air Algérie in October 1979

Air Algérie new livery

Air Algérie was founded on March 15, 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.

The airline used Douglas DC-3 aircraft on internal routes and the Douglas DC-4 on routes to France. Between 1955 and 1960, the longer routes to Paris and Geneva were operated by pressurised Lockheed Constellations. The first jet aircraft to be flown by the company were Sud Caravelle twin-jets, the first being acquired in December 1959.

The 22 April 1922 a Dorand AR of the Company network Trans performs maiden flight Algiers - Biskra. The first airline ceases operations on 1 June 1923 and, in the meantime, the air lines Latécoère try several routes to connect the city to Algeria as a ramp line Toulouse - Morocco. The poor had implemented makes business difficult, and some flights are operated from 6 October 1922 between Casablanca and Oran by Breguet 14 and Latécoère 15.

Line Oran - Alicante opened on 10 April 1924 with seaplanes Lioré-Olivier H13; these seaplanes into service on Algiers - Alicante in 15 May 1925. This last line will be closed in December 1925, while flights to Oran cease late 1927. Overflying the Mediterranean by aging H13 has brought only disappointment and exploitation is a result of failures and shipwrecks.

Efforts are then carried on the path Algiers - Marseille which is operated, from 22 August 1928, with 63 seaplanes SPCA Meteor, Latécoère 21 and CAMS 53 and 58, with a stopover in Balearic Islands by the Compagnie générale Aeropostale (Latécoère old lines). This line is open to passengers on 1 June 1934, with commissioning seaplanes Lioré-242 by Olivier Company Air France newly created, which will then use the Breguet 530 Saigon.

Early 1947, appears to Air Algérie, created under the leadership of John Lignel, will push themselves quickly at the world's leading airlines and provide with Air France, the largest portion of the traffic to the mainland at the outset of Algiers, Oran and Constantine. The four-Breguet 763 Provence, colloquially called Deux-Ponts, is operated by Air France in March 1953. The same company activates the jet Caravelle SE 210 on line Algiers - Paris on 15 December 1959, followed closely by Air Algérie in the January 1960.

From 1955, with the discovery of oil and the beginning of the Algerian national revolution, the need for air transport of personnel and cargo increase dramatically. Algeria and the Sahara are covered with a dense, whereas a true airlift is implemented on the Mediterranean airlift which will reach its maximum activity during the dramatic moments of the exodus.

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 43.000.000.000 DA.

Modernization of the company

Airbus A330-200 at Montréal-Trudeau

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. A few years later, Air Algeria, relieved of the management terminal, became a limited company in 1997 and 2006, its capital amounted to 57 billion dinars (about 560 million euros). With nearly 6 million passengers a year on its regular routes, Air Algérie saw sales go up year after year. Thus, an airline is doing very well. It has modernized its fleet.

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. Air Algérie is a Joint Stock Company (J.S.C) the registered capital of which is 43.000.000.000,00 DA. Air Algérie is a company resolutely turned towards modernity. Air Algérie has made in 2005, a 48.7 billion DA turnover, a 5% progress compared to 2004 and a 8 billion DA net profit. The airline carries annually nearly 3 million passengers on its regular services.

In 2009, Air Algérie made a turnover of 58.1 billion Algerian Dinars (DA) with an increase of seven percent (7%) compared to 2008, and a four (4) billion Algerian Dinars (DA) net profit.

Air Algérie has invested 400 million Euros in November 2010 for the renovation of its fleet for 2011. This investment was modernizing the cabins and image of the aircraft. The company promises to offer a service on board with high technology of last generation in its planes.

On 19 June 2011, following a strike by staff, the CEO Abdelwahid Bouabdellah, was fired for criticizing the CREDOC and accepted a revaluation of salaires. Mohamed Salah Boultif was appointed in his place. On 11 July 2011, a strike of flight crews lasted for four days and blocked several thousand passengers at airports in Algeria and France.

Organization

Airbus A330-200 Landing in Montréal-Trudeau

Air Algérie headquarters in Algiers

Air Algérie office in Beijing

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

Air Algerie has the following subsidiaries: Technics Air Algérie, Air Algerie Catering, and Air Algérie Cargo.

Other services include:

• Air transport functions such as flight operations, maintenance, transport and commercial functions.
• Charter services in support of oil exploration and the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca.

Recently and in the past, Air Algerie has seen more criticism of its service and organization. Passengers frequently complain of excessive delays, lack of care and poor organization, fraudulent prices, poor states of the cabin and uncleanliness, and unfair practices administered by the airline. It is currently a 2-star airline by Skytrax.Many of these complaints have resulted in passengers boycotting the airline and even protesting outside ticketing offices.

Privatization

Boeing 777-200 with shared livery of Air Algérie and the defunct Khalifa Airways in February 2003

Between 1947 and 1974, Air Algérie was a property of Air France. In the same year, the Algerian State bought 100% of the company.

In 1990, Air Canada attempted to buy the company but did not manage to come to an agreement with the Algerian State.

Rafik Khalifa, who owns Khalifa Airways, expressed his interest in acquiring Air Algérie. Khalifa offered a great sum of money and many times the value of Air Algérie, but a year after the negotiations Khalifa was accused of embezzlement of more than EUR 1 billion, and the accusation forced Khalifa Airways to cease its operations.

Air Algerie has no intention on hastening the privatization of the company. Nowadays, this one in negotiation the sale of 25% of Air Algérie to the company Cevital and other one 25% to Djilali Mehri. Remaining 45% of Air Algérie was continuing with the Algerian State for the present time. Remaining 5% of Air Algérie belongs to the union of the employees of Air Algérie. The Algerian State already has declared officially that they made one the sale of 50% of Air Algérie began a process to sell the 45% share that remains. The plan of the Algerian State is to divide the sales to different owners in order that the company not this one controlled by one owner.

Logo

File:Боинг(Boeing) 767-300 - Ер Алжир(Air Algerie).png

Air Algérie Boeing 767 landing

Air Algerie logo was created in 1966 in Algiers and since then has never been changed or modified. On 21 June 2011, the company officially announced that the logo is a Swallow. This bird is a national Algerian symbol.

Destinations

Main article: Air Algérie destinations

Air Algérie Airbus A330-200 take-off

Codeshare agreements

Air Algerie has codeshare agreement with the following airlines:

Aeroflot (SkyTeam) Aigle Azur Air Canada (Star Alliance) Air China (Star Alliance) Alitalia (SkyTeam) Iberia (Oneworld)

Korean Air (SkyTeam) Lufthansa (Star Alliance) Middle East Airlines (SkyTeam) Qatar Airways Tunisair Turkish Airlines (Star Alliance)

Catering

Air Algérie possesses its own catering service, where more than 2,000 employees prepare the meals of all the Air Algérie's flights that depart from Algeria. Air Algérie also works with other companies for catering, for example Gate Gourmet and LSG Sky Chefs.

Fleet

Passenger

As of November 2012, the Air Algérie fleet consists of the following aircraft with an average age (passenger airplanes only) of 9 years:

Air Algérie fleet

Aircraft	In Fleet	Orders	Passengers				Notes
			F	C	Y	Total
Airbus A330-200	5		14	22	196	232	3 more possible for Q1 2013 replacement for the Boeing 767-300
ATR 72-500	12	0	0	0	66 70	66 70	Largest operator of this type in Africa
Boeing 737-600	5	0	0	16	85	101
Boeing 737-800	17	0	0	48	114	162	13 fitted with winglets
Boeing 767-300	3	0	10	16	187	213	Possible exit from service 2012-2013
Total	42	13

The airline has plans to add more longhaul aircraft to its fleet and foresees reaching 50 aircraft by 2025.

Air Algérie is considering purchasing 10 Boeing 787's. If the 787's are purchased, the company plans to open new routes. In a statement released by Salah Boultif, the CEO of Air Algérie, he made it clear that once the order for the 787 is completed, the aircraft could enter the fleet as early as 2016. Hints that its confirmed that they are going to purchase 10 Boeing 787-8 and deliveries will begin from early 2017. They operate one Lockheed L-100-30 for Air Algerie Cargo, they might convert two of there Boeing 767 for Cargo as soon they are out from service from Air Algerie.

Fleet history

Air Algérie Airbus A330-200 landing

Over the years, Air Algérie has operated the following aircraft types:

Air Algérie retired fleet

Aircraft	Introduced	Retired
Airbus A300	1977	1991
Airbus A310	1985	2003
Airbus A330	2005	present
ATR 72	2003	present
Boeing 707	1962	1977
Boeing 727	1969	2004
Boeing 737–200	1971	2004
Boeing 737–400	1999	2005
Boeing 737–600	2002	present
Boeing 737–800	1999	present
Boeing 747–100	1970	1977
Boeing 747–200	1971	1977
Boeing 747–300	1989	1997
Boeing 767	1990	present
Boeing 777–200	2003	2003
McDonnell Douglas DC-10	1976	1990
Sud Aviation Caravelle	1962	1976
Fokker F27	1982	2000

Cabin

Boeing 737-600 takes off in Frankfurt

Air Algérie offers two types of cabins. The Airbus A330-200 is not equipped with the AVOD entertainment system, but cabin refurbishment is being considered. The Boeing 767–300 and Boeing 737–800 are equipped with audio systems.

Classe Affaires

The Business Class is offered on the Airbus A330-200, Boeing 767–300, Boeing 737–800 and Boeing 737–600. In the Airbus A330-200, reclining seats up to 118°. Each seat includes a 10.4" touchscreen TV monitor with interactive gaming and AVOD. An express drink is served shortly after takeoff. In the Boeing 767–300, Boeing 737–800 and Boeing 737–600, there are reclining seats up to 118°, with an audio system.

Classe Économique

The Classe Économique aircraft is at Airbus A330-200, Boeing 767–300, Boeing 737–800, Boeing 737–600 and ATR 72-500. In the Airbus A330-200, reclining Seats 118°. Each seat includes an audio system. In the Boeing 767–300, reclining Seats 118°, with an audio system. In the Boeing 737–800 and Boeing 737–600, reclining Seats 118°, with an audio system. In the ATR 72-500, reclining Seats 118°.

Incidents and accidents

Fatal

• On 19 May 1960 at 9:46 UTC, a mid-air collision occurred 13 miles away from Paris-Orly Airport, involving an Air Algérie Sud Aviation Caravelle (registered F-OBNI) on a scheduled passenger flight from Algiers and a small privately owned Stampe SV.4 biplane (F-BDEV). The Stampe was completely destroyed upon impact, killing the sole pilot on board. The cabin roof of the Caravelle was torn open by debris, especially caused by the propeller blades of the biplane. Its two jet engines stopped due to sucked in debris, but could be restarted almost immediately, allowing for a safe landing. There were no fatalities amongst the 32 passengers and 7 crew members of the Air Algérie flight, and the aircraft could later be repaired.
• On 11 April 1967, an Air Algérie Douglas DC-4 (registered 7T-VHU), which was on a flight from Dar El Beïda Airport in Algiers to Tamanrasset Airport, crashed into a hill in the Sahara desert near Tamanrasset during landing approach, killing all 33 passengers and 6 crew members omboard.
• On 26 July 1969 a fire broke out on board an Air Algérie Sud Aviation Caravelle (registered 7T-VAK), which likely resulted from an electric malfunction. The aircraft was on a chartered passenger flight from Marseille to Biskra, and the pilots tried for an emergency landing at Oued Irara – Krim Belkacem Airport, but the plane was quickly engulfed by flames and crashed, killing all 30 passengers and 7 crew members.
• On 24 January 1979 at around 19:40 local time, an Air Algérie Aérospatiale N 262 (registered 7T-VSU) crashed 15 kilometres short of the runway of Boudghene Ben Ali Lotfi Airport, resulting in the death of 14 out of the 20 passengers on board. The three crew members survived the accident, which was blamed on the malfunction of an altimeter (as the approach was performed too low), coinciding with pilot error and fatigue.
• On 21 December 1994, an Air Algérie Boeing 737-200 operating Cargo Flight 702P from East Midlands Airport to Coventry Airport (both in England) on behalf of Phoenix Aviation crashed 1.7 kilometres short of the runway at the destination airport, killing the five crew members on board.
• On 6 March 2003 at 15:15 local time, Air Algérie Flight 6289, a Boeing 737–200 (registered 7T-VEZ) on a domestic flight from Tamanrasset to Algiers via Ghardaïa, crashed shortly after take-off from Aguenar – Hadj Bey Akhamok Airport because of an engine failure, killing 96 passengers and all 6 crew members on board. There was only one survivor, thus making it the worst accident in the history of the airline (as well as of Algeria) to date.
• On 13 August 2006 at ca 20:15 local time, Air Algérie Cargo Flight 2208 (a Lockheed L-100 Hercules registered 7T-VHG) crashed near Piacenza in Italy, resulting in the death of the three crew members. The aircraft had been on a flight from Algiers to Frankfurt when a problem with the autopilot occurred, resulting in the pilots losing control of the plane.

Non-fatal

• On 8 June 1949, the right main landing gear of an Air Algérie Douglas C-47 Skytrain (registered F-BCYO) collapsed upon landing at Lyon-Bron Airport, following a cargo flight from Algiers. During the crash landing, the aircraft was destroyed, but the three crew members survived.
• On 30 October 1951, an Air Algérie Sud-Ouest Bretagne (registered F-OAIY) caught fire and was subsequently destroyed at Paris-Orly Airport, following the sudden collapse of the right main landing gear during take-off run. All 30 passengers and 4 crew members on board could be saved.
• On 26 April 1962, following the end of the Algerian War, an Air Algérie Lockheed Constellation (registered F-BAZE) parked at Maison Blanche Airport in Algiers was blown up by OAS terrorists, a militant French far-right nationalist group strongly opposed to the independence of Algeria.
• On 23 September 1973, an Air Algérie Sud Aviation Caravelle (registered 7T-VAI) was damaged beyond repair in a landing accident at Algiers-Dar el Beida Airport.
• On 1 August 1989, an Air Algérie Lockheed L-100 Hercules cargo aircraft suffered a ground loop upon landing at Tamanrasset Airport following a flight from Algiers, resulting in the aircraft being damaged beyond repair.
• On 25 July 1991, the nosegear of an Air Algérie Fokker F27 Friendship (registered 7T-VRM) collapsed during a hard landing at In Guezzam Airport, damaging the aircraft beyond repair.
• On 2 August 1996, an Air Algérie Boeing 737-200 (registered 7T-VED) overran the runway at Tlemcen Airport in an attempt to abort the take-off for a scheduled flight to Algiers. There were no fatalities among the 100 passengers and 6 crew members on board, even though the aircraft was substantially damaged.
• Another runway overshot involving an Air Algérie Boeing 737–200 (this time 7T-VEH) occurred on 31 January 1999. Upon landing at Constantine Airfield in unusual snowy conditions following a flight from Paris, the aircraft was severely damaged when it overshot the runway and struck a heap of snow. There were no casualties among the 92 passengers and 7 crew members.
• On 18 March 2006 at 10:30 local time, the right main landing gear of an Air Algérie Boeing 737–600 (registered 7T-VJQ) collapsed upon landing in poor weather conditions at Seville Airport following a flight from Oran. Approximately 45 out of the 101 passengers and 6 crew members on board were injured.
• On 14 March 2008, an Air Algérie Boeing 737-800 (registered 7T-VKA) that was operating Flight 1143 from Paris to Sétif with 120 people on board suffered extensive damage during a hard landing at Ain Arnat Airport.

Highjackings

• On 31 August 1970, three passengers armed with pistols and molotov cocktails hijacked an Air Algérie Convair CV-640 on a scheduled domestic flight from Annaba to Algiers and demanded the pilots to head to Albania instead. During a fuel stop in Brindisi, eleven passengers were allowed to leave the aircraft. As the aircraft was denied landing permission by the Albanian authorities, it diverted to Dubrovnik in then Yugoslavia instead, where the perpetrators could be arrested.
• On 20 January 1981, the 52 United States embassy hostages departed Tehran, Iran on a chartered Air Algerie jet. The plane was not allowed to leave Tehran until President Carter, who negotiated the release through Algerian mediation, was succeeded by Ronald Reagan.
• When an Air Algérie Boeing 737-200 landed at Houari Boumedienne Airport on 31 March 1991 (during the Algerian Civil War) following a scheduled passenger flight from Béchar, a passenger threatened to detonate a hand grenade and insisted on being able to have a political statement on live national television, concerning the planned national election. The demand was rejected, and the hijacker was persuaded to give up and set free the 53 other persons on board the aircraft.
• Another hijacking occurred on 13 November 1994, when three people on board an Air Algérie Fokker F27 Friendship (registered 7T-VRK) on flight from Algiers to Ouargla demanded to be granted the possibility to have a political statement (that is, a live coverage). The aircraft with 39 other people diverted to Palma de Mallorca Airport, where the perpetrators surrendered.
• On 25 July 1996 at around 9:00 local time, an Air Algérie Boeing 767-300 with 232 persons on board was hijacked at Oran Es Sénia Airport by a man who demanded to be flown to the United States of America, rather than to Algiers where the aircraft had been scheduled to leave for, actually. After more than four hours of negotiation he surrendered to the local authorities.
• On 19 January 2003, Air Algérie Flight 6025 from Constantine to Algiers, was hijacked shortly after take-off by a man who demanded the pilots to fly the Boeing 737-800 to North Korea. The flight continued to Algiers, though, where the perpetrator could be restrained by police forces storming the aircraft. None of the 24 other passengers and 6 crew members were injured.
• On 19 August 2003, an Air Algérie Boeing 737-800 was hijacked by a mentally-ill passenger right after take-off from Houari Boumedienne Airport, who threatened to blow up the aircraft when the crew would not divert to Geneva (rather than to Lille as the flight was scheduled). The crew carried out an allegedly necessary fuel stop at Oran Es Sénia Airport, where the man could be arrested.

External links

• Official website Template:En icon Template:Fr icon