A significant financial envelope has been released to strengthen security and the quality of services in Algerian airports which are renowned for being among the safest in the world.
A government decision follows multiple incidents of illegal migrants fraudulently entering planes bound for abroad, as well as repeated criticism from MPs from the Algerian community established abroad regarding the quality service in the country’s terminals, notably Algiers airport.
Attending, Saturday, April 27, meeting in Tipaza on the evaluation of the air transport sector, the Minister of Transport, Mohamed El Habib Zahana, revealed the amount allocated for the 2023 financial year for strengthening security and improving the quality of service in Algerian airport infrastructure: 10 billion dinars, or 75 million US dollars.
The minister indicated that strengthening security at airports constituted a ” priority “, explaining that the envelope released by the government will be used to launch projects aimed at making Algeria ” an international transit center ” and a ” link between African countries and the world, by raising the level of airport security to current international standards ,” according to a report from the official APS press agency.
Zahana gave an overview of the projects in question, revealing that they relate to the establishment, in Algerian airports, of surveillance systems using thermal cameras and scanners “ compliant with international standards, particularly in detecting explosives.”
The acquisition of these systems will be done through national and international calls for tenders, said the first manager of the sector. In particular, plans include the strengthening and digitalization of video surveillance systems in certain airports, the rehabilitation of exterior walls and patrol circuits, as well as projects related to AEP, sanitation, and fire-fighting systems.
Algeria: security at airports, a “ priority ”
The minister also reported on projects for the protection against flooding of the airports of Chlef and El Bayadh, the extension of the terminals of Tamanrasset, Oran, and Tébessa as well as the redevelopment of the airport of Bordj Badji Mokhtar.
Air Algérie: a program to strengthen its fleet
The projects in question must be delivered on time, he insisted.
In addition to the announced projects, the Minister of Transport reported the inclusion of a program to strengthen the aircraft fleet of Air Algérie which ordered, last May, fifteen aircraft from Boeing and Airbus.
The national airline has a fleet of 56 aircraft and is struggling to meet the strong demand for air traffic, particularly on the domestic network and the destination France, its main market.
Concerning the quality of services, Mr. Zahana deplored “ inadequacies ” in certain installations, citing the lack of coordination between the different actors (management structures, airlines, etc.).
He particularly insisted on the need to reduce flight processing time and baggage delivery time, improve orientation, availability of seats, prayer rooms, and bathrooms, review prices applied in stores, and support people with specific needs.
He also called for leveraging new technologies and digitalization for booking, check-in, and baggage processing.
The meeting was also an opportunity to reveal some figures relating to the development of air transport in Algeria. According to the minister, the sector did better in 2023 compared to the period before the health crisis.
During the last financial year, Algeria’s 36 airports recorded 15.3 million passengers, including 6.7 million on the national network and 8.6 million on the international network. More than half of the traffic was recorded at Algiers airport alone, with 8 million travelers, including 5.6 million on international lines.
In 2019, the total number of passengers passing through Algerian airports was 14.3 million.
