Air Algerie Gears Up For Longest Africa Route: Johannesburg With The Airbus A330

Algeria’s flag carrier Air Algérie is set to launch two weekly non-stop flights to Johannesburg, South Africa, starting from September 21, 2023. The connection has been in the works for a while and is part of the airline’s greater route expansion plan.

Flight schedule

As per the government’s directive, Algeria’s national carrier is moving forward with the plan to enhance its fleet and global network. It will begin connecting Algiers Houari Boumediene Airport (ALG) and Johannesburg OR Tambo (JNB) during the southern summer season, and the service will continue throughout the rest of the year.

Photo: Fasttailwind | Shutterstock.

Flights from Algiers will be operated on Sundays and Thursdays, while the return connection is operated on Mondays and Thursdays with the Airbus A330. The schedule is as follows:

After a nine and half hour’s flight from Algeria to South Africa, the aircraft will only be on the ground for about one and a half hours before returning home. The service was initially scheduled to start on March 26 with the same schedule but was delayed until late September.

Connecting Algiers to Johannesburg

Algiers Airport is one of the main gateways in Northern Africa, while OR Tambo is Southern Africa’s main hub. The route has never been served regularly by any airline before, and Air Algérie will probably be the only carrier operating flights for a while. Air Algérie spokesperson Amine Andaloussi said;

“The opening of this line comes in accordance with the instructions of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, aimed at strengthening the international network of Air Algérie and developing the Algiers Hub. It is also part of the roadmap drawn up by the Ministry of Transport and the national airline for the opening of lines allowing the latter to position itself in Africa.”

While the carrier’s destinations in sub-Saharan Africa are minimal, ALG-JNB will become its longest within Africa, measuring 4,619 mi (7,433 km). It will also be the second-longest route in the carrier’s network, ahead of ALG-YUL (3,909 mi) and behind ALG-PEK (5,671 mi).

Photo: GC Map

Although Algeria is one of South Africa’s largest trading partners in North Africa, tourism between the two nations is not the highest. As such, the JNB-ALG route will probably be frequented by transit passengers looking for onward connections. The national carrier offers over 15 options for further connections to destinations in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Flight inauguration and more destinations

Commercial flights to JNB will begin in September, but the route will be officially inaugurated on August 21 for the 15th BRICS summit, taking place in South Africa. This follows the state’s recommendation for industrial companies to participate by showcasing Algeria’s industrial potential.

Photo: Airbus

The Algerian airline has also announced plans to significantly expand its global network and reach 60 destinations by 2025. This means the carrier will add up to 20 destinations in the next year and a half, including Addis Ababa, Abuja, Douala, and Libreville in Africa.

Destinations outside the continent include Amsterdam, Caracas, Havana, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, and New York. The announcement was made after the launch of Air Algérie’s inaugural flight to St Petersburg Pulkovo Airport (LED) on July 26. ALG-LED is the carrier’s latest route, operated three times a week

What do you think about Air Algérie’s flights to Johannesburg and other expansion plans? Please let us know in the comments!