Summary
- Air Algérie operated its longest flight between Algiers and Johannesburg, setting a new record for the carrier.
- South Africa welcomed the airline for the first time with a special ceremony attended by officials from both nations.
- The Algiers-Johannesburg route will strengthen bilateral ties and economic opportunities between Algeria and South Africa, making Algiers Airport a major hub for southern African passengers connecting to other markets.
South Africa is celebrating a new direct connection with North Africa, as Air Algérie operated its longest African flight between Algiers and Johannesburg on Monday, August 21.
This special service comes a month before the carrier officially launches direct flights to the South African capital. This flight will set a new record too, becoming the carrier's longest flight (4,619 mi) between two African points. The flight became even longer as Air Algérie had to reroute via West Africa, avoiding Niger's airspace.
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First time in Johannesburg
Air Algérie landed in Johannesburg for the first time on Monday, where it was greeted with a water cannon salute and a special welcoming ceremony attended by various stakeholders from both nations. Algeria's Minister of Finance Laaziz Faid and other Algerian officials were onboard as they traveled to South Africa for the 15th edition of the BRICS summit.
The nine-hour flight was operated with an eight-year-old Airbus A330, becoming the carrier's latest international route. According to FlightRadar24.com, flight AH5360 departed Algiers Houari Boumediene Airport (ALG) at 22:18 and arrived at Johannesburg OR Tambo (JNB) at 07:05 UTC.
The return service is scheduled to depart Johannesburg on August 24 at 11:05, arriving in Algiers at 21:30. Algeria's flag carrier will return to Johannesburg with the A330 on September 21, when it begins its nonstop commercial service. ALG-JNB flights will be operated twice a week on Sundays and Thursdays.
An important connection
The North African airline was initially scheduled to commence its Algiers-Johannesburg flights on March 26 with the same schedule, but the service was delayed until September.
Ahead of the Monday flight, Algeria's Minister of Transport Youcef Cherfa and Air Algérie Director General Yacine Benslimane chaired an inauguration ceremony at Algier's Houari Boumediene Airport. The Transport Minister explained that this new connection would strengthen bilateral ties between Algeria and South Africa and offer excellent economic opportunities.
Additionally, it supports Algeria's plans to expand the national carrier's network and make Algiers a major African hub. ALG will become an important transit point for southern African passengers looking to connect to Asia, Europe, or South America. ALG will offer connections to destinations like Paris Orly (ORY), Rome (FCO), and Barcelona (BCN), which are not available directly from Johannesburg.
More sub-Saharan connections
At the inauguration ceremony, Youcef Cherfa recalled the country's recently added connections to Abidjan, Bamako, Dakar, and Ouagadougou, which have become essential destinations for the national carrier. Algeria's transport ministry is also ready to open more routes between Algiers and sub-Saharan, including Abuja, Addis Ababa, and Douala.
Addis Ababa will be served twice-weekly with the Airbus A330 from October 30. Douala will be served with the Boeing 737, and by the end of the year, the carrier will add Abuja to its African network.
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Source: Algérie Press Service, FlightRadar24.com