Algerian Flight Company gets rid of planes fit for service
26 Boeing 727 and 737 owned by the Algerian airlines company Air Algérie, are uncared-for at the Algiers international airport facilities pending their selling on account of their supposedly “old “ age although still fit for service.
- The decision came as part of the company’s managers’ program to renew part of their fleet and get rid of the old planes.
- One of the photos shows a number of planes bearing the company’s logo in an advanced state of degradation some inside the warehouses and others left outdoor subject to the whims of times.
- Another photo shows two planes side by side, a Boeing 737 and an ATR stuck on the ground by the control tower amid a pile of abandoned spare parts and garbage.
- 5 others planes of type 727 and 737 are left stranded in ruin on the tarmac by steps parked by dumpsters and others stuck on the tarmac head down.
- To recall, Air Algérie was supposed to sell the 26 planes to a private Libyan private airlines company but the deal was limited to four planes, noting that the operation was carried under blurry circumstances requiring an in- depth investigation from the relevant authorities.
- Sources inside the company have indicated that the deal sealed with the Libyan for the acquisition of four planes has cost the public treasury a loss estimated at 45 million Euros in the sense that the managers could have sold the planes 60 million Euros but didn’t get more than 15 millions.
- The deal is regarded as one of the biggest financial scandal that smeared the reputation of one of the major national companies.
- The same sources have further indicated that the company could gave saved $ 600 million representing the total cost for the acquisition of 11 planes in 2009, if it resorted to use maintenance facility, knowing that one engine is estimated at $ 3 million.
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- The company’s fleet counts 33 planes, all types included; the number less than that of the Moroccan one that counts 40 planes.