Brussels, 08/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - Algeria rules out any idea of concluding an Open Sky agreement liberalising air transport. The Commission has proposed this to the EU's neighbouring countries and has already garnered approval from Morocco, with which it has signed an agreement. Another agreement with Tunisia is at the preliminary discussions stage - although Tunisia a little reluctant.
Algeria's Transport Minister Boudjema Talai stated on Monday 5 October that nothing would be planned before the modernisation of Algeria's national airline, Air Algérie. “The day that the national carrier Air Algérie offers its customers a quality of service in line with international standards and comparable to that of other airlines, Open Sky will not bother anyone”, Talai said during an inspection visit to Algeria's international Houari Boumediene airport, as reported by Algeria's official news agency APS.
Modernising Air Algérie will involve the creation of four divisions (catering, cargo, handling, and maintenance and repair). According to APS, Air Algérie has started a campaign to renew its fleet. Sixteen planes will be purchased by the end of 2016. (Original version in French by Fathi B'Chir)
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