Air Algerie’s new local subsidiary Domestic Airlines has begun services, taking off from the county’s capital Algiers for its first flight on Aug. 22.
Domestic Airlines will support the growing demand for internal air mobility, especially for people living in the southern Saharan regions of Algeria.
The formation of Domestic Airlines in July followed Air Algerie’s acquisition of Tassili Airlines, which had previously been part of Sonatrach Holdings, Algeria’s state-owned oil and gas group. The flag carrier followed up the takeover with an order for 16 new ATR turboprops for Domestic Airlines, the largest order placed by any African customer with the aircraft manufacturer. Equipped with latest generation PW127XT engines, the 72-seats ATR 72-600s are scheduled to be delivered between 2026 and 2028.
At the time of purchase, Air Algerie CEO Hamza Benhamouda said, “The ATR 72-600 is the right aircraft to help us connect all regions of our country and support national development through reliable and efficient air transport. Its performance on short and thin routes makes it an essential part of our strategy while its fuel efficiency also supports our goal of reducing emissions and building more sustainable operations.”
As part of the agreement with ATR, Air Algérie also purchased Africa’s first-ever ATR 72-600 full-flight simulator, strengthening the country’s aviation training capabilities.
The creation of Domestic Airlines will give Air Algerie a dedicated platform to focus on short-haul, point-to-point connections between smaller communities.
The new airline will also boost tourism in the country, facilitate economic exchanges between regions and tackle congestion on main road networks.
Tassili’s existing fleet of 15 aircraft, which includes Boeing 737s and De Havilland Canada Dash 8 turboprops, has already been incorporated into the national domestic carrier.
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