The Algerian diaspora is doubly penalized. In addition to the high price of tickets, Algerians living in France face a low supply.
Air transport to and from Algeria is one of the most expensive in the world. The prices displayed by the airlines which ensure in particular the connections between Algerian and French cities are beyond comprehension.
Basically, you have to pay between 650 and nearly 1000 euros to book a return ticket on the Paris-Algiers line, and you still have to find it.
A prejudicial situation in the first place for the national community established abroad, particularly the diaspora in France, but also for resident nationals wishing to travel.
After several months of almost total closure due to a health crisis, the partial reopening of air links has not been a relief for everyone.
The denunciations and complaints of emigrants on social networks ended up causing the high authorities of the country to react. This Tuesday, November 9, Prime Minister Aymane Benabderrahmane announced the opening of an investigation to determine the causes of this abnormal rise in prices.
It was the Algerian ambassador to France, Mohamed Antar Daoud, who raised the problem on the second day of the conference of heads of Algerian diplomatic missions abroad, which has been held since Monday at the Palais des Nations in Algiers.
Supporting figures, the diplomat demonstrated the difficulty, even the impossibility for some Algerians residing in France to afford the trip to the country. A family of 4 has to pay around 3,000 euros when their income is only 2,000 euros, the ambassador said.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that the tariffs are indeed expensive and promised to open an investigation.
“Practices have been observed which would dissuade the Algerian community abroad from going to their country, and depending on the results of the investigation, necessary measures will be taken to allow the diaspora to remain in permanent contact with their country homeland”, pledged Mr. Benabderrahmane.
The consequences of the health crisis cannot explain everything. The national airline company Air Algérie has certainly suffered enormous losses following the almost total immobilization of its fleet for more than a year, but the tariffs applied are disproportionate.
Insufficient supply
The government has decided to act because the stakes are high. This situation does not encourage nationals to come to the country and is therefore at odds with the new policy of the authorities who want to make the diaspora an important player in national life.
Among the orientations given by the President of the Republic at the opening of the conference of ambassadors and consuls held at the Palais des Nations, the care and defense of the interests of Algerians wherever they are.
“Our community needs to rebuild trust. In this regard, I would like to remind you that this question is at the top of the priorities of the President of the Republic’s program,” the Prime Minister recalled in his speech.
The authorities have multiplied in recent months the promises of better care and a more meaningful role for the Algerian diaspora, but on the ground, things are moving very slowly as shown by this story of mobility from and to Algeria since the start of the health crisis.
For the investigation announced by the Prime Minister, many will not fail to wonder about its advisability as the problem is only the logical consequence of another which escapes no one: the weakness of the offer.
Because even at the exorbitant prices displayed, many Algerians abroad are unable to obtain a ticket, whether on the flights of the national company or those of foreign companies.
Air France, for example, applies even higher prices and cannot meet all the demand. On Air Algeria, the only Algerian airline that operates flights abroad, all seats are reserved until January, despite the high price of tickets.
This is obviously the fault of the partial opening of international links. When you set up a few weekly flights for a community of several million people, it can only generate tension on tickets and skyrocket prices.
The Algerian diaspora is thus doubly penalized: to the high cost of tickets, an old problem which characterizes Algeria – France flights, is added the problem of the availability of seats on the planes. Even by paying a high price, Algerians living in France cannot return to the country whenever they want. With around forty flights per day, Air Algeria currently operates only 23 flights per week for the whole of France.
