Air Algérie Boosts UK Flights with New Manchester Route, 14 Weekly Flights
Image: Echorouk
Takeaway
Air Algérie's strategic expansion in the UK market presents opportunities for investors in Algerian tourism and related sectors. The increased flight frequency and new Manchester route could stimulate demand for travel services, hospitality, and cultural experiences, benefiting companies like hotels, tour operators, and local businesses catering to the Algerian diaspora. Investors should monitor passenger load factors and route profitability to assess the long-term viability of this expansion.
Air Algérie is expanding its service to the United Kingdom, increasing the total number of weekly flights to 14 starting in the summer of 2026. The Algerian national airline is launching a new route to Manchester, in addition to its existing services to London's Heathrow and Stansted airports. This expansion reflects Air Algérie's strategy to strengthen its presence in the British market and meet the growing demand for travel between Algeria and the UK, particularly from the Algerian diaspora.
This move aligns with Air Algérie's broader strategy to expand its European network and cater to increased demand for flights between Algeria and the UK. In April 2025, Air Algérie began regular scheduled services to London Stansted Airport. The airline has served Heathrow since 1994, but flights are scheduled to cease on March 28, 2026, with Stansted becoming the sole London gateway. In December 2025, Algeria granted $207 million to Air Algérie and domestic airlines.
Air Algérie currently operates four weekly flights between Algiers and Stansted using Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft. To support the increased capacity during the summer season, the airline intends to deploy a mix of narrow-body and wide-body aircraft, including the larger Airbus A330-200. Air Algérie operates a fleet of around 60 aircraft and has several new deliveries on order, including Airbus A330neo long-haul jets, Boeing 737 MAX 9 narrow-bodies, and ATR 72-600 turboprops for domestic and regional operations.
The expansion benefits both Algerian travelers in the UK and those seeking to travel to Algeria for business and tourism. Passengers already booked on Heathrow services are expected to be automatically rebooked onto Stansted flights, with refunds available for those who prefer not to travel from the alternative airport. The introduction of the wide-body jet would significantly boost seat capacity compared with the Boeing 737 aircraft currently used on the route.
Looking ahead, Air Algérie is evaluating potential new routes beyond London, with Birmingham also under consideration as the carrier looks to serve regional demand from the Algerian diaspora and expand leisure travel links. Air Algérie plans to double African routes in three years. The airline is also restructuring as a holding company and adding entities.