By Stellamaries Amuwa, Abuja
The airline, Air Algérie has launched a new air route between Algiers and Abuja, starting Sunday, April 6, 2025.
The airline delegation was received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Sunday by the Algerian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Mezoued Hosineb, and representatives of the Nigerian government.
The initiative is part of Air Algérie’s efforts to expand its flight network and strengthen cooperation between Algeria and Nigeria. The airline added that the new route will operate via the city of Douala, benefiting from the fifth freedom of the air (the right to fly between two foreign countries on a flight originating or ending in its own country).
It said this will allow regular flights between Algiers and Abuja via Douala, with the possibility of purchasing round-trip tickets between Douala and Abuja.
Speaking, Ambassador Hosineb said the launch of the airline will deepen the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Algeria, which has been strengthened over more than two decades by an economic partnership implementing three projects, including the Trans-Saharan pipeline.
“Our two countries are open to a market economy thanks to the profound reforms undertaken by our national authorities at different levels. With this new flag, our two countries are closer than ever. Algeria is now less than five hours from Abuja. I am very pleased that the process of discussions and exchanges between the two parties, re-initiated for more than a year, has led to this opening. As we keep up the Algeria-Abuja route today, we must appreciate the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and all the stakeholders for making this possible.”
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said the new direct flight will open a myriad of economic opportunities for both destinations.
Keyamo, who was represented by Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, said, “Our business communities and companies will no longer have any reason to come to Nigeria or Algeria to do business and investments.
“Finally, this flag also opens the way to strengthen exchanges in the fields of tourism and culture. It will certainly give new impetus to human and inter-university exchanges between our two countries.”
He applauded the partners of Air Algérie for making this dream of several years a reality and congratulated them on this achievement. “I am very optimistic that further goals will be achieved in the coming months on the way to consolidating our excellent bilateral relations.”
He appealed to the management of Air Algérie to take care of the passengers very well. “We do not want to hear cases of disgrace or maltreatment of Nigerian passengers. We shall give you all the support to succeed. The Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development is here.”
“All our efforts are going to go even further. Besides Abuja, we want you to be landing in Kano. We want you to land in Lagos.”p
CEO Hamza Benhamouda, of the national flag carrier, also commended the initiative, saying that it will boost economic activities of the two countries.
