Anyone ever flown with Air Algerie?

The title of the post says it all really - interested in hearing any
experiences with this carrier, short or longhaul.

Traveller schrieb:

The title of the post says it all really - interested in hearing any
experiences with this carrier, short or longhaul.

Passengers of http://www.rte.ie/news/2003/0307/accident.html cannot
report any more. Don't know about service etc.

Regards, ULF

Last incidents:

19 Aug 2003: The 737, on a flight from Algiers to Lille via Oran,
was hijacked by a 55-year old man after takeoff from Algiers. He
threatened the crew with what he claimed was a grenade and demanded
to be flown to Geneva. The crew convinced him that a stop at Oran was
necessary to refuel. At Oran the hijacker surrendered to security services.

6 Mar 2003: 737, reportedly the right hand engine caught fire on takeoff.
102 fatalities.

31 Jan 1999: An 727, ran off runway and struck a mount of snow; nosegear
collapsed. 0 fatalities.

2 Aug 1996: 737, take-off aborted due to difference in engine N1
readings. The aircraft overran by ca. 40m. The nosegear collapsed.

25 Jul 1996: At Oran-Es Senia Airport, a hijacker demanded to be
flown to the USA. Authorities negotiated the release of all hostages
and arrested the man.

Overall, from 1969 till 2003: 6 airplane crashes. Not that bad.

Air Algerie have seven "new" 737-800s and five "new" 737-600s, the
last new 737 was delivered in summer 2002.
In Nov 2003 Air Algerie signed a contract with Airbus for
the purchase of five wide body twin-engined A330-200s to renew
its their wide body fleet. Delivery of the aircrafts will begin
in Jan 2005.
Air Algerie also signed a contract for six ATR 72-500s to develop
its short-haul international and regional markets. The aircraft
will replace the carrier's fleet of F27s. The delivery for ATRs
started early 2004.

Nevertheless, for the time being Air Algerie still have plenty of
older aircrafts including A310s and triple-engine 727s.
Sometimes they have have 747-400 and 747-200 - mostly leased.

Air Algerie flights are well-known to be late, due to
various reasons. One being that they simply do not have enough
parking spots at the Airport in for incoming flights, therefore,
they wait in Paris, Rome, Frankfurt, etc until a spot can be
allocated for the aircraft. Seating number allocated on
boarding cards are not respected and quite often on board,
passengers just take any seat that they like.
Smoking is officially not allowed but you will still see
people lighting up. Food onboard is generally acceptable and
tasty.

When departing Algiers, all passengers must identify their
luggage which will be laid out on the tarmac prior to boarding
the aircraft.

Air Algerie certainly is part of the Algeria experience, but
those who are scared of flying may not find this the most
reassuring airline to go with.

MrAbcX schrieb:

31 Jan 1999: An 727, ran off runway and struck a mount of snow; nosegear
collapsed. 0 fatalities.

Where?

Air Algerie flights are well-known to be late, due to
various reasons. One being that they simply do not have enough
parking spots at the Airport in for incoming flights,

Should be organized by the airport while bookings slots.

therefore,
they wait in Paris, Rome, Frankfurt, etc until a spot can be
allocated for the aircraft.

Had this experience with LH into FRA but I have to admit they arrived
early. Had to wait but was not exactly delayed while leaving the
aircraft.

Regards & f'up2, ULF

One being that they simply do not have enough
parking spots at the Airport in for incoming flights,

Should be organized by the airport while bookings slots.


Airport slots are 'owned' by provident carriers who pay big bucks for them.
Obviously either Air Algerie arrives too late to use its designated slots -
or, more likely, it is too skint to buy sufficient appropriate slots.

They sound 'interesting' - as in the old Chinese curse - "May you live
in interesting times!!!"





"Ulf Kutzner" wrote in message
...
MrAbcX schrieb:

31 Jan 1999: An 727, ran off runway and struck a mount of snow; nosegear
collapsed. 0 fatalities.

Where?

Air Algerie flights are well-known to be late, due to
various reasons. One being that they simply do not have enough
parking spots at the Airport in for incoming flights,

Should be organized by the airport while bookings slots.

therefore,
they wait in Paris, Rome, Frankfurt, etc until a spot can be
allocated for the aircraft.

Had this experience with LH into FRA but I have to admit they arrived
early. Had to wait but was not exactly delayed while leaving the
aircraft.

Regards & f'up2, ULF