Algeria is Opening its Skies to Qatar
Interesting development in North African aviation!
(Picture: Boeing)
New Air Agreement Signed
The Ministry of Transport of Qatar, the superior aviation authory in the State, announced last week that Algeria and Qatar had signed a new air transportation services agreement—one that virtually allows their respective airline to operate unrestricted and unlimited passenger and cargo flights between the two Arab League members countries. This means fifth freedom rights are granted to Algerian and Qatari airlines, 5th freedom flights are routes where an airline operates flights between two foreign countries as part of a service connecting to its home country.
The news seemed to have been welcomed well in both countries, with websites already speculating on possible new route oppurtunities this will bring—especially for Algeria.
Current Qatar Airways 5th Freedom Flights
Qatar Airways is definitely not new to the concept of 5th freedom flights, in fact, the state-owned airline operates quite a few of them. Flight QR1459 is a three-weekly A320 flight that connects Doha (DOH) to Mogadishu (MGQ) in Somalia via Djibouti (JIB). A traveler who wants to go from Somalia to Djibouti can thus do it on a foreign Qatari airline.
The Qatari flag carrier also offers service from Doha (DOH) to Ho Chi Minh City ( via Phnom Penh) onboard the Boeing 777-300ER and between Sao Paulo (GRU) and Buenos Aires (EZE).
The Case of Emirates
Geographically, what we could see in Algeria is more similar to what Emirates is doing in Southern Europe. The Dubai-based airline operates fifth-freedom flights from Dubai (DXB) to New York (JFK) via Milan (MXP), and Dubai to New York via Athens, filling the lack of a national Italian/Greek flag carrier on the routes.
Emirates operates the A380 on its Milan-New York flight. (Picture: Mark Bess)
So How Will Qatar Airways use those Rights?
I can see Qatar Airways pursuing approval from the United States to operate a 5th freedom route to Algeria. But the priority will most likely be Canada, which is home to the largest Algerian community on the continent. Keep in mind that Qatar Airways will have to receive approval from Canada, which is a good time for it, considering Canada expressed its desire to diversify its economic relations. Algeria currently does not have an agreement with the United States and as such that will need to be signed before any flight to New York takes off.
Notably, this could be Oran (ORN)'s chance at getting its long awaited transatlantic flight to Montreal (YUL), which was last unsuccesfully considered in 2016 by Air Algérie. This would also connect Oran (ORN) with Doha (DOH); a double win for the second largest city of Algeria.
Possible routes in my opinion; note that routes will require approvals from the other countries concerned (e.g. Canada). (Picture: Great Circle Map)
An Air Algerie base in Doha (DOH)?
Air Algérie is awaiting new A330-900neos.
It seems Air Algérie intends to operate its Asian routes via Doha instead of directly from Algiers. This will reduce the risk factor, as Air Algerie will benefit from the diverse communities in Qatar. As an example, I could see Air Algérie trying the Kuala Lumpur route it wanted to do (but got cancelled/delayed), but this time through Doha. Only this time, the airline will be able to serve both the Malaysia-Qatar and the Algeria-Qatar markets at the same time.
The Algerian flag carrier is also planning to open routes to Guangzhou and Hong Kong, which could now be done via Doha. Of course, these future routes—if happening, will have to be approved by both Chinese and Malaysian authorities due to their 5th freedom nature.
Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Guangzhou (CAN) and Hong Kong (HKG) were all listed as cities Air Algérie wants to serve; note that again, approval from relevant authorities will be required. (Picture: Great Circle Map)
Conclusion
Qatar and Algeria have signed a fifth-freedom rights agreement, allowing their respective airlines to operate flights from the other country to another foreign one. This could be a good opportunity for Algiers (ALG) to have a better global network, and for Oran (ORN) to get its first transatlantic flight.
