Commercial demand drives Emirates to add flights to Algeria

UAE carriers now fly directly to Algiers nine times a week

Emirates will now fly daily to Algeria. Coupled with Etihad's flights, there are nine UAE flights a week heading to Algiers. Reem Mohammed / The National

Emirates will fly to Algeria daily to cater to an increase in “healthy commercial demand”, the carrier said on Monday.

Orhan Abbas, Emirates senior vice president of African commercial operations, said that the introduction to additional services to Algiers will offer customers “even more choice and convenience to connect to Dubai and onward destinations”.

“Algeria will become the fourth destination in north Africa to have a daily frequency, along with Casablanca, Tunis and Khartoum,” Mr Abbas added.

The new service, which adds to the previous six flights a week, will operate every Wednesday using a Boeing 777-300.

This comes four months after Abu Dhabi carrier, Etihad, announced its launch of three weekly flights to mark the next stage of growth for the company’s African network.

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Etihad’s then-chief executive, James Hogan, said in July that the routes would “strengthen the oil and gas links between the UAE and Algeria, and create new opportunities for both countries in the areas of government, trade, tourism and cultural exchange”.

The airline also said that with its aircraft, 72 tonnes of bellyhold capacity to and from the North African country would be added - helping to boost trade opportunities.

Etihad added that it expected to transport oil equipment, garments, building materials and vehicles while importing dates, lubricants and a wide range of manufactured goods.