Ghoul: “Decision to reopen Algerian air transport to private operators rests with the Government”

Transport Minister Amar Ghoul has stated that the final decision to grant anew licenses to private airline operators to invest in Algeria’s air transport rests solely with the Government.

“The 98-06 law outlining the general regulations governing civil aviation enacted in 1998 has indeed opened the airline market to private airline companies. However, access to the market now depends on a proper license to be issued by the government itself,” said the transport Minister who put forth a bill on civil aviation on Tuesday before MPs of the National People’s Assembly or Lower House of Parliament.

“Investing in the Algerian air transport market requires an operating license to be delivered by the Government,” said Amar Ghoul, recalling that the government had frozen the delivery of these licenses for several years now.

The minister had announced in January that Algerian airspace would be reopened to private domestic companies, once all the relevant criteria and procedures were carried through.

Furthermore, the Minister stressed the need to distinguish between the opening of the air transport market to private operators and adherence to the international system “OpenSky” which means the all-out opening of the Algerian airspace to foreign aircraft.

Mr Ghoul further pointed out that Algeria was not ready to join the system in the current circumstances, stressing that this decision also falls within the prerogatives and duties of the Algerian state, the sole authority to decide on the matter.

The Algerian government stopped granting aviation licenses to private airline operators in the mid-2000s after a financial scandal involving the now-dissolved private operator Khalifa Airways.